Integrating remote sensing and jurisdictional observation networks to improve the resolution of ecological management

Abstract

The emergence of citizen science, passive sensors (e.g., trail cameras and acoustic monitoring), and satellite remote sensing have enabled biological data to be collected at unprecedented spatial and temporal scales. There is growing interest in networking these datastreams to expedite the collection and synthesis of environmental and biological data to improve broad-scale ecological monitoring, but there are no examples of such networks being developed to directly inform decision-making by managing agencies. Here, we present the implementation of one such jurisdictional observation network (JON), Snapshot Wisconsin (SW), that links satellite remote sensing (RS) with a volunteer-based trail camera network to generate new insights into wildlife distributions and improve their management by the state agency. SW relies on citizen scientists to deploy trail cameras across the state and classify images of wildlife. As of early 2020 SW comprises nearly 1800 volunteers hosting >2100 active cameras recording >37 million images across a sampling effort of >2000 combined trap-years at >3300 distinct camera locations. We use a set of case studies to demonstrate the potential power of a JON to monitor wildlife with unprecedented combinations of spatial, temporal, and biological resolution and extent. Specifically, we demonstrate that SW markedly improves the spatial and temporal resolution with which black bear distributions can be monitored or forecast, in turn improving the resolution of decision-making. Enhancing the biological resolution of monitoring (e.g., monitoring the distribution of species traits or behaviors) may provide new insights into population drivers, such as the connection between vegetation productivity and white-tailed deer foraging behaviors. Enhanced taxonomic extent provided by trail cameras and other passive sensor networks provide managers new information for a wide range of species and communities that are not otherwise monitored. Our cases further show that JONs synergize existing monitoring practices by serving as a complementary and independent line of evidence or as a tool to enhance the extent and precision of existing models through integrated modeling approaches. SW and other JONS are a powerful new tool for agencies to better achieve their missions and reshape the nature of environmental decision-making.