Agreement matrices between biologist and community scientists for six amphibian species (Western Toad (Anaxyrus boreas; WT), Boreal Chorus Frog (Pseudacris maculata BCF), Wood Frog (Lithobates sylvatics; WF), Columbia Spotted Frog (Rana luteiventris; CSF), Northern Leopard Frog(Lithobates pipiens; NLF), and Western Tiger Salamander(Ambystoma mavortium; WTS)).

The Rocky Mountain Amphibian Project (RMAP) began including community scientists in amphibian monitoring in Wyoming and Colorado in 2014. Since then, more than 320 community scientists have contributed data to this long-term monitoring project. Their contributions have proven to be incredibly beneficial, as illustrated in this new publication from the founders and researchers behind RMAP. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department state herpetological coordinator, two University of Wyoming Researchers, and three current and former Biodiversity Institute project coordinators contributed to the paper.

Analysis of all data collected since 2014 found that community scientists can identify and detect species with the same proficiency as professional biologists. In addition, involving community scientists is a huge benefit to agency biologists who face resource limitations in conducting these large-scale, long-term monitoring studies. Without the help of these community scientists, our knowledge of amphibians throughout Wyoming and Colorado would be greatly diminished!

You can access the article in the January 2022 issue of Ecological Indicators at https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X2101116X