the Editor says: Did you know? Through citizen scientists' cetacean sighting records and related data, we can not only deepen our understanding of cetacean ecology and behavior, but also reflect the indispensable role that citizen science plays in environmental conservation. Join BlueTrend in becoming a citizen scientist! <Full article reprinted from the Kuroshio Ocean Education Foundation; text by Yu Xin-Yi, 2023.4.14>
Thanks to the efforts of many, Taiwan's only long-term cetacean marine sighting dataset (1998–2021) was made publicly available this past March on the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). From the very first year of Kuroshio's founding, naturalist guides spontaneously recorded the species, spatio-temporal occurrences, and behaviors of cetaceans observed during voyages. Although in the early years the number of records reported annually was unstable due to limited human and material resources, all Kuroshio members agreed on the importance of this foundational work. In addition to cultivating the knowledge and skills needed to fill out sighting forms during naturalist guide training, the organization has in recent years hired dedicated staff — working together with interns, volunteers, and guides — to compile records into digital files, with researchers then cleaning each entry to ensure accuracy. To date, the dataset spans twenty-three years (1998–2021, excluding 2001 due to missing data) and contains over ten thousand sighting records. Given the high diversity of cetacean species in the waters off Hualien, this world-class treasure trove of information is now open to the public through an open database, and all parties are welcome to make use of it.
Strengths of Whale-Watching Sighting Data
This dataset has already been applied to research on the spatio-temporal distribution of cetaceans in Hualien waters, studies on the spatio-temporal distribution of Risso's dolphins (Grampus griseus) in Hualien waters, the Ocean Conservation Administration's 111th-year "2nd Ocean Citizen Science Datathon" competition, as well as the Foundation's own analyses of cetacean distribution hotspots around Hualien and biodiversity inventories. Beyond research and long-term monitoring, we hope this data can be used by people across a wide range of fields — whether for ecology practicum courses, geographic information system exercises, or science fair papers. We hope that students and members of the public interested in cetaceans will help write the story of "experts among the people." Here is a brief introduction to the strengths of whale-watching sighting data:
Long Temporal Coverage Spanning Seasons and Years
Kuroshio's whale-watching records now span twenty-three years and continue to accumulate. The dataset also uncommonly includes winter and spring voyage records. For example, false killer whale sightings recorded in spring highlight the importance of having records from other seasons. Based on prior long-term underwater acoustic monitoring analyses by Dr. Lin Zi-Hao, more cetacean species may appear in winter; however, dedicated research vessels are often unable to operate during winter and spring due to funding constraints, making whale-watching data a valuable source of preliminary information.
High Effort, High Reliability, Including Records of Rare Species
The scientific community strongly affirms the value of data provided by citizen science; rigorously processed data are reliable and extremely valuable for understanding population and habitat information. In the field of cetacean research, systematic surveys are often insufficient in frequency or coverage due to high costs, and whale-watching vessel data are especially critical for providing information on "rare species," improving the accuracy of cetacean diversity assessments in various regions. Taking Kuroshio's whale-watching sighting data as an example, among nearly a thousand records over five years, new species records have repeatedly emerged — including large baleen whales such as Omura's whale and Bryde's whale — while small dolphins such as rough-toothed dolphins and common dolphins currently have only a small number of precious records from whale-watching vessels and have yet to be sighted in systematic surveys.
Local Monitoring, Fostering Community Science Education and Participation
In the process of training naturalist guides to participate in citizen science recording, in addition to standardizing the methods and definitions used for cetacean sighting records, more people are brought into the practice of scientific observation — for example, learning to identify different species through key morphological characteristics and understanding the definitions of various behaviors listed on the sighting form. These quantitative and objective description skills help engage more interested individuals in supporting scientific recording. Citizen science participants can also spread this knowledge more widely across schools, communities, and industries. Completing cetacean sighting forms also serves as an introductory exercise in cetacean research, allowing undergraduate and graduate students to assess the feasibility of scientific projects through recording and analysis.
Public Participation, Data Transparency, and Information Enhancement
In addition to quality control for accuracy, Kuroshio's cetacean data are uploaded to the database in their entirety without any human selection, free from the filtering of specific surveys or research frameworks, and with no preset assumptions — maintaining the neutrality of the data. Beyond the ongoing internal analyses at Kuroshio, making the data publicly available is intended to encourage exploration of cetacean ecology from a wider variety of perspectives, and to serve as one component of environmental monitoring. Through cross-disciplinary participation, the data has the potential to develop into indicators for observing the ecological health of cetaceans and for detecting threats to cetaceans at an early stage.
A Stepping Stone Toward Linking Northwest Pacific Cetacean Data
Open citizen science data is particularly important in regions where research findings remain unclear, and large-scale collaboration is often built upon several transnational citizen science datasets. For cetaceans — a group of highly migratory and mobile animals — among the several global cetacean databases that currently exist, countries along the northwestern Pacific coast have rarely made their data publicly available. This cetacean sighting dataset is our open invitation for whale-watching and other survey data from across Taiwan and from other countries to continue to be published, so that the waters through which the Kuroshio Current flows may share not only biological resources, culture, language, and ethnicity, but also cetacean information, in a spirit of mutual flourishing.
Limitations of Whale-Watching Sighting Data
There are still some limitations to records collected aboard whale-watching vessels. For instance, whale-watching voyages last only two hours, covering a limited range and rarely venturing into offshore waters or to the northern and southern boundaries farther from port. Additionally, a very small number of "non-primary whale-watching species" may be less frequently recorded (e.g., behaviorally cryptic species such as pygmy sperm whales, dwarf sperm whales, and beaked whales), while primary whale-watching target species — particularly large whales (e.g., sperm whale, killer whale) — receive especially thorough documentation. Furthermore, the same group of dolphins may be recorded multiple times by different departures (morning, afternoon, etc.) on the same day. These data characteristics represent sampling or effort biases commonly encountered in citizen science in general, and researchers will still need to clarify them on a case-by-case basis according to the needs of subsequent analyses.
The use of citizen science data also requires consideration of the completeness of the citizen science program, including whether personnel training is thorough, the breadth and depth of coverage, whether observer bias and experience-related error can be overcome, and the degree of quality control applied before data are made public. Kuroshio has long maintained a careful scientific approach, standardizing the recording of cetacean dynamics at sea and continually seeking input from various parties to improve data quality — with the hope of providing rich, high-quality sighting records as a contribution to the protection of cetaceans.
If you are interested in using this dataset, please also read the integrity disclosure on the sources and limitations of the Kuroshio cetacean sighting database.
Related Links
- Kuroshio Ocean Education Foundation Official Website
- Kuroshio Ocean Education Foundation Facebook
- Original article reprinted from: Taiwan's Only Long-Term Cetacean Sighting Record: The Strengths and Challenges of Whale-Watching Citizen Science Data
Further Reading
