How to stop wasting time recognizing a plant or an animal as a field biologist?

Introduction

Hello everyone, welcome to my screencast. My name is Simon, and I am currently studying Natural Sciences at Cégep de Saint-Hyacinthe. I have been studying biology for one and a half years, and my ultimate goal is to become a field biologist. In this program, I am taking courses in biology, chemistry, and physics, as well as courses in math and statistics to help me analyze data.

I have got a great video for you today. Stays tuned to hear more about some of the specific actions we can take to make a difference and help each other.

The Problem

As a biologist in the field, for those of you who don’t know about, we face the challenge of identifying various plants and animal species that we come across in my future work. With so many species out there, our scientific knowledge is limited. However, there is a solution to this problem, and I will explain it to you. The solution is an application called SEEK. This application is an online tool that helps field biologists identify plant and animal species quickly and accurately. By using the camera on a smartphone or tablet, the app scans the environment and provides information on the species present, including their names, descriptions, and ecological roles.

As a field biologist, you may come across a plant or animal species that you are not familiar with and cannot identify using traditional methods. In this case, the SEEK app can be a valuable tool in helping you identify the species quickly and accurately.

In this tutorial, I will show you how to effectively use the SEEK website to identify plant species in the field.

The Quest

In order to effectively use the SEEK website, it's important to understand the different target vocabulary terms used throughout the site. One of the key terms used on the site is "species", which refers to a particular type of plant or animal. When using the site, you will be able to take a picture of a species and the app will identify it for you.
When browsing through the site, you may come across the term "common name". This refers to the name those peoples commonly used to refer to a species. For example, the common name for the species Canis lupus is "gray wolf".

Finally, it's important to understand the term "scientific name". This refers to the name given to a species by scientists, and it is usually made up of two parts: the genus and the species. For example, the scientific name for the gray wolf is Canis lupus. By understanding and using these target vocabulary terms effectively, you will be able to navigate and use the SEEK website with ease and accuracy.

When you open the SEEK app, and you're signed in, you can access the main features of SEEK by clicking on the button located at the bottom of the screen in the middle. The icon, "camera", allows you to upload a photo of the plant or animal you want to identify. To do this, click on the button and select "upload photo" in the menu that appears. Then, select the photo file from your device and click on "open". The app will start analyzing the photo and generating a list of possible matches, or you can take a Live Photo.

The second button, "Browse", allows you to search for species by name, family, or location. To search by name, type the common or scientific name in the search bar located at the top of the page and press enter. The app will display a list of species that match your search criteria. To search by family, click on the "family" button and select the family you're interested in from the dropdown menu. The app will display a list of species that belong to that family. To search by location, click on the "map" button and use the interactive map to select the area you want to explore. The app will display a list of species that are known to occur in that area.

The third button, "Contribute", allows you to share your observations with the SEEK community and contribute to scientific research. To do this, click on the button and select "create observation" in the menu that appears. Then, fill in the details of your observation, including the species name, location, and any relevant notes or photos. Once you're done, click on "submit" to send your observation to the SEEK community for review.

The Solution

After the app is installed, open it up and create an account. This will allow you to save your observations and keep track of your progress over time. You can then start using the app to identify different species in the field.

The app will then provide you with a list of possible matches for the species you're trying to identify. You can then select the best match from the list, and the app will give you detailed information about the species, including its common name, scientific name, and a description of its physical characteristics.

If you want to learn more about a particular species, you can also browse through the app to find more information. You can search for species by a common name, scientific name, or family, and the app will provide you with a list of all the species that match your search criteria.

The Conclusion

Throughout the screencast, I demonstrated how SEEK can be used to effectively identify different plant species while in the field.
By effectively demonstrating how to use SEEK to identify plant species in the field, I provided a specific, plausible, and worthwhile solution to the challenge set out in the introduction. With the help of SEEK, field biologists can save a lot of time and effort in the field, and be more efficient and effective in their work.

If you are a biologist or someone who is interested in learning more about the natural world, I highly recommend that you download the SEEK app and start exploring the different species that are out there. By using the app and contributing to the scientific community, you can help expand our knowledge of the natural world and contribute to its conservation. Thank you for watching, and happy exploring!