• A study on the Malabar tree toad highlights climate change impacts on the species and the significance of citizen science in advancing scientific knowledge.
• Over 100 nature enthusiasts from local communities participated in the study and most were recognised as co-authors of the paper.
• Experts say giving authorship builds a sense of ownership among local communities who could become ambassadors of species conservation.

How much can the general public contribute to science? Plenty, it seems — a realisation that the scientific community is increasingly embracing. A recent study on the distribution and future habitat suitability models for the endemic Malabar tree toad of the Western Ghats exemplifies this trend. The paper published in August 2024 features approximately 85 co-authors, many of whom represent citizen science initiatives. “Scientists can no longer work in silos; we definitely need the collaboration of the public,” admits scientist Gururaja K.V., who led the study.

A citizen science programme usually involves the general public in scientific research, data collection, and analysis, often in collaboration with scientists or experts. The data for this research primarily came from the citizen science programme, Mapping Malabar Tree Toad, a part of the Frog Watch initiative on the India Biodiversity Portal.

The study examined the influence of climate change on the Malabar tree toad (Pedostibes tuberculosus), endemic to the Western Ghats, and the availability of suitable habitats for the species in protected areas, both presently and in the future.

Researchers found that climate change has a far-reaching impact on the species, which is found to occur more robustly in areas with higher precipitation. The study used 50 years of rainfall data (1952-2000) to conclude that the rapid change in rainfall could have a significant impact on the species in the next 50 to 80 years. Gururaja shares that they have noticed a decline in precipitation in the north of the Western Ghats, in places such as Goa and Maharashtra, which could potentially lead to the toad’s extinction there and push the species further south. However, the study has not taken the impacts of development and land use change into consideration.

Wildlife in the backyard

For effective monitoring of amphibians, citizen science programmes can provide valuable ecological data on the distribution range of species, population trends, and the patterns and drivers of change, thus aiding in the management and conservation of these species, the paper notes. The breeding phenology of amphibians is an important indicator of their population structure (and decline), and this is often determined through their vocalisation, which is influenced by temperature and precipitation. Amphibian citizen science programmes have helped in the documentation of the breeding phenology of frogs, which has, in turn, assisted scientists in understanding the impact of climate change on the species.

Manu Nackathaya, who runs a homestay in the foothills of Kudremukh in the Western Ghats, has always had a keen interest in the wildlife in his backyard, encouraging his guests to take part in walks to appreciate the diversity through programmes like “Frog Walks.” “My guests are often amazed when they spot around 25 amphibian species near the homestay,” he says. As a member of the citizen science programme, he actively participated in the current study. “When citizens are encouraged to observe the wildlife around them, they develop a deeper connection with their environment. This fosters greater respect for local wildlife and a better awareness of how our actions impact our surroundings,” he shares.

Gururaja, who has nearly 25 new amphibian species discoveries to his credit, emphasises that collaborating with non-expert citizens, who are enthusiastic about conservation, is particularly important in amphibian research, where there are only a handful of scientists and the subject is often considered non-glamorous. “Scientific studies are no longer just about publishing papers,” he states, adding, “For the conservation of a species to occur on the ground, you need to find ways to engage with people.”

Citizens become co-authors

The scientists involved in the latest paper recognise citizen contributors as co-authors rather than mere collaborators. This move has been welcomed by other scientists in the field, who see it as a positive step towards encouraging greater participation from non-expert citizens in conservation efforts. Kerala-based scientist Sandeep Das was pleasantly surprised to see his name mentioned in the acknowledgements of the latest study; everyone who has made a significant contribution to amphibian research in the Western Ghats is recognised in the paper. “When citizens receive authorship in scientific papers, it builds a sense of ownership; they become ambassadors for species conservation,” Das explains, drawing from his experience collaborating with local communities to promote the conservation of the rare Indian purple frog, or Mahabali frog (Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis), named after Kerala’s beloved fabled king and Onam mascot, King Mahabali.

The Malabar tree toad, the only species in the genus Pedostibes, possesses the unique ability to climb trees, unlike most other toads in the Western Ghats which are terrestrial. According to the paper, the toad can be found along streams, on trees, and in tree cavities within evergreen to moist deciduous forests at altitudes ranging from 50 m to over 1,000 m above sea level. It was first described by Günther in 1876, after which the species remained undocumented for over a century, only to be rediscovered in Silent Valley National Park in Kerala in 1980. Even after that, very few observations were available until 2020. But lately, citizen science has revealed its abundance in the Western Ghats. It is a  Schedule 2 species under the Wildlife Protection (Amendment) Act 2022, which Gururaja shares is an outcome of not including citizen science. “The species is locally abundant, it shouldn’t even be there in the Schedule,” he says.

Species studies often focus on protected area networks; however, considering that much biodiversity exists outside these networks in a biodiversity hotspot like the Western Ghats, citizen science can help reach those areas, potentially leading to similar conservation outcomes, Gururaja says. “When it comes to the Western Ghats, we often debate whether to implement the Kasturirangan report or the Gadgil report. What we really need to do is view the entire Western Ghats as a biological heritage and advocate for a more landscape-level approach to conservation. The paper argues for that,” he notes.

First published by Mongabay India on 10 October 2024.