EEB PhD student uses Facebook to identify thousands of fish
Devin Bloom, a Ph.D. candidate in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology at the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) helped illuminate a powerful new use for the social network. Earlier this year while on a scientific expedition to the remote jungles of Guyana, Bloom helped conduct the first ichthyological survey on Guyana’s Cuyuni River. With the goals of identifying which species of fish live in the Cuyuni and to establish an estimate of their abundance. In two weeks, the team had collected more than 5,000 fish specimens and were required by the government to accurately identify all of the species. With so many specimen and very little time, Bloom suggested they use Facebook as a tool to have others from the scientific community assist them in identifying their specimens. In less than 24 hours almost every specimen was identified! As a result, biologists around the world who face similar logistical challenges may soon be using the site to assist them with their research.
National Museum of Natural History