An assessment of data accuracy and best practice recommendations for observations of lichens and other taxonomically difficult taxa on iNaturalist

We assess the identification accuracy of 'research grade' observations of lichens posted on the online platform iNaturalist. Our results show that these observations are frequently misidentified or lack the necessary chemical and (or) microscopic information for accurate identification. Lichens are a taxonomically difficult group, but they are ubiquitous and eye-catching and are regularly the subject of observations posted on iNaturalist. Therefore, we provide best practice recommendations for posting lichen observations and commenting on observations. Data from iNaturalist are a valuable tool for understanding and managing biodiversity, particularly at this crucial time when large scale biodiversity decline is occurring globally. However, the data must be accurate for them to effectively support biodiversity conservation efforts. Our recommendations are also applicable to other taxonomically difficult taxa. Key words: biodiversity, conservation, citizen science, species at risk, data accuracy. Les auteurs evaluent l'exactitude d'identification des observations de lichens de qualite recherche affichees sur la plate forme en ligne iNaturalist. Leurs resultats revelent que ces observations sont souvent mal identifiees ou ne comportent pas les informations chimiques ou microscopiques necessaires a une identification exacte. Les lichens constituent un groupe taxonomiquement difficile, mais ils sont omnipresents et ne pas sent pas inapercus, et ils font regulierement l'objet d'observations affichees sur iNaturalist. Par consequent, les auteurs formulent des recommandations en matiere de bonnes pratiques pour afficher des observations de lichens et commenter les observations. Les donnees de iNaturalist sont un outil precieux pour la comprehension et la gestion de la biodiversite, en particulier en cette periode cruciale ou le declin de la biodiversite a grande echelle se produit a l'echelle mondiale. Cependant, les donnees doivent etre exactes pour qu'elles puis sent soutenir efficacement les efforts de conservation de la biodiversite. Leurs recommandations sont egalement applicables a d'autres taxons taxonomiquement difficiles. [Traduit par la Redaction] Mots-cles: biodiversite, conservation, science citoyenne, especes en peril, exactitude des donnees.
Introduction iNaturalist is an online platform where species observations worldwide can be shared and mapped by citizen scientists and professionals. The site was created in 2008 by students at the [...]