The TEAM Network: Using next-generation field guides in ecology and long-term monitoring

Background/Question/Methods

Implementing the Tropical Ecology, Assessment and Monitoring (TEAM) Network - a global-scale, standardized, distributed monitoring system for biodiversity and ecosystem services presents challenges for field identification, verification and methodological quality control.  At the same time, achieving adequate coverage over large scales requires that large numbers of individuals, who speak different languages, be engaged in data collection. 

Results/Conclusions

I will discuss some novel approaches to field guides and field data collection that TEAM has implemented, using smart phones and digital images and the challenges associated with these approaches.  Discussion will focus on how to effectively harness the power of these and other technologies to consider future directions for digital field guides. Effective use of smart phones for ecological monitoring lags significantly behind other fields such as medicine.