: As an amateur entomologist, I was thrilled to read this article that underscores the role of citizen science, and incredible tools such as iNaturalist in contributing to our understanding of the biosphere.
Such tools can impart a sense of wonder at the beauty, complexity and ubiquity of life, revealing unseen worlds in our midst. I have used iNaturalist to document more than 80 species of insects, including many important pollinators, in my modest fifth-floor container garden. Even as we depend on such insects for our survival, we also share our urban spaces with them, life finding a way in the most inhospitable places. It is a reminder that our built environment is also theirs, and that we are forever caught in their web of life.A community science program called Bumble Bee Watch engages everyday people to provide critical data on bumblebees across Canada. They are one of the most effective and important of all pollinators.
Participants can use their phones to upload photos of bumblebees, along with a location and date. Photos are then verified by scientists, contributing to an ever-growing and invaluable database on bumblebee distribution, population trends and identification of species at risk across the country, which then informs the implementation of conservation action.Lance WoolaverLetters to the Editor should be exclusive to The Globe and Mail. Include your name, address and daytime phone number.