Abstract
One of the most notable features of an observation-driven approach to ecology is that data can come from anywhere. There are virtually no limits on the types of observations that might become part of a scientific study of changing ecological systems. Old photographs, a naturalist’s field notebook, seafood-restaurant menus from a bygone era, long-forgotten scientific papers, a gambling contest, feathers of a bird preserved in a museum, stories passed down from generation to generation, and even a centuriesold pack-rat midden preserved by generations of pack-rat urine have all been used recently in ecological studies. This openness is both a benefit — it creates limitless opportunity for ecological studies and also invites all sorts of people to become part of a new ecological understanding, regardless of their scientific training, means, or geographic location — and also a curse — how do we sift through it all to find out what is useful, and once we find what we are looking for, how much can we trust all these uncontrolled observers?
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Notes
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*Ed Ricketts, letter to Joel Hedgpeth, 9 December 1945. Edward Flanders Ricketts Papers, 1936 – 1979. Special Collections M0291, Stanford University Libraries, Department of Special Collections and University Archives.
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Sagarin, R., Pauchard, A. (2012). Local, Traditional, and Accidental Ecological Observers and Observations. In: Observation and Ecology. Island Press, Washington, DC. https://doi.org/10.5822/978-1-61091-230-3_6
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