The risks and rewards of community science for threatened species monitoring

Finding ways of efficiently monitoring threatened species can be critical to effective conservation. The global proliferation community science (also called citizen science) programs, like iNaturalist, presents a potential alternative or complement conventional monitoring. Using case study ~700,000 observations >10,000 IUCN Red List Threatened within iNaturalist observations, we illustrate the risks and rewards using monitor species. Poor data quality sending untrained volunteers sample that are sensitive disturbance harvesting key barriers overcome. Yet expand breadth at little extra cost, while indirectly benefiting conservation through outreach education. We conclude with list actionable recommendations further mitigate capitalize on as tool.