Abstract Detail

Recent Topics Posters

Blanco, Summer [1], Chang, Shumei [1].

Using citizen science to survey anther color variation in Geranium.

Approximately 75% of flowering plants have yellow or white colored pollen, however, pollen may also be pigmented red, blue, purple, or black. Petal color polymorphism has been the subject of many studies, yet few studies have explored variation in androecium color. Studies on populations Nigella degenii, Campanula americana, Erythronium americanum, and Epimedium pubescens have recently revealed that biotic and abiotic selective pressures influence androecium pigmentation. The genus, Geranium, has a large amount of anther color variation, with several species that bear black, purple, blue, red, and yellow anthers. Recent field surveys from our group (unpublished) have revealed pollen color polymorphism in wild geranium, Geranium maculatum, along an elevational cline; a trend that has not been observed in other plant species. Using research-grade observations of over 100 species of Geranium from the citizen science image repository, iNaturalist, we aim to evaluate anther color variation and polymorphism in Geranium. In June 2022, we launched a citizen science project, “The Colors of Pollen” on the platform, The Zooniverse, with the goal of evaluating anther color from over 100,000 iNaturalist images. The Zooniverse is “the world’s largest and most popular platform for people-powered research” with over a million users that assist researchers in analyzing large sets of images. Here, we present a practical guide for researchers interested in using The Zooniverse to engage non-scientists, as well as our preliminary results from our recent launch.

Related Links:
"The Colors of Pollen" Zooniverse Project

1 - University Of Georgia, Plant Biology, 120 Carlton St. , Athens, GA, 30602, United States

Keywords:
Flower color
Citizen Science
iNaturalist.

Presentation Type: Recent Topics Poster
Number: PRT006
Abstract ID:1310
Candidate for Awards:None