African Wildlife Environment Issue 75 FINAL

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

Plenty of photos should be taken if you think your beast will be hard to identify. For example, Aspalathus angustifolia needs (a) a close-up of the flower showing the arrangement and shape of bracts and sepals (photo by margrietb: www.inaturalist.org/ observations/9114728), (b) a photo of the species in its natural habitat (photo by Nicky: www.inaturalist.org/observations/22462631) and (c) another feature such as this pod (photo by margrietb: www.inaturalist.org/observations/9114728).

a

b

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Exploring other observations is a great way to learn more, not only about identification, but also about ecology, behaviour, interactions and threats. Ideally your observation will reach research grade and be shared across the global community. If you are unsure about any aspects of using iNaturalist there is an online help that includes video tutorials, guidelines, etiquette and instructions. iNaturalist also caters for those who wish to earn money from their photographs and need to copyright them. How can I get involved? The easiest way to get involved is to download the free iNaturalist application (for Android or iPhone) onto your mobile device. In this way, you can easily upload observations anywhere without any need to be at your computer. After you have created a profile, you can immediately start taking photos and uploading observations. If you are a bit intimated to be a solo naturalist, you can join your local conservation organisation as a volunteer. We suggest joining the nearest WESSA 'Friends' or CREW groups. These regularly go out for walks in local reserves and parks, making it easier to make observations of South Africa’s beautiful natural capital. These groups are usually involved in events that happen in around their cities, such as bioblitzes, and, the Other features available on iNaturalist • Species lists for places. • Species guides. • Projects to coordinate and collate data and manage participation. • Identification curation tools. • Online Artificial Intelligence identification

photos: A close-up of a flower or fruit (ideally showing the front and back), a photo of a branch showing the arrangement and shape of the leaves on the stem, and a habit or habitat shot showing the entire plant in the context of its environment. Similarly, for beetles, a close-up of the head showing the mouthparts and antennae, of the entire beast showing the segments of the feet and the thorax and abdomen, and of the beetle in its habitat. One of the pictures should have something to show the scale: a finger or ruler will do. There is no limit on the number of photographs, so take pictures of the underside, a side view, of the texture of the shell or bark, and so forth. An important feature of iNaturalist is the feedback. You should regularly check for comments or progress on your identifications, and to see if others may be interested in knowing more about your observation. This is how you can learn and share most efficiently. Of course, if you know a group well, why not contribute by helping to identify other people’s observations?

The Red Toad ( Schismaderma carens ) is distributed widely throughout Central and Southeast Africa. This juvenile was found between Parktown and Hillbrow (photo by nelgthomson: www.inaturalist.org/ observations/10355060).

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