Learning the Basics: Phone App
Introducing iNaturalist
Exploring the basic functions of the iNaturalist phone app and an invitation to use the web based iNaturalist.
A device almost everyone carries around with them these days can be a significant tool to scientists the world over. It can also be your personal comprehensive field guide with image recognition capabilities. By loading the iNaturalist app on your phones, you can both add to your own knowledge of the natural world, and contribute to valuable databases beneficial to scientific research.
How it works
Using the phone app is simple, and should be considered a field record you can later visit on the web based version of iNaturalist. The app offers three ways to submit an observation. You have the choice of immediately taking a photo by allowing iNaturalist to use your camera. Or you can submit a file you already have on your camera. This can be a photo file, or it can be an audio file. Once iNaturalist receives your photo, you will be prompted to provide further data. The location will be automatically included with the file you submit if you have allowed your phone/camera to geolocate. You may want to supply a brief description or anything you think notable and helpful. Just scroll down the page and fill in what you want. Then hit submit and you’re done.
iNaturalist has a social networking component you won’t be able to access through the app. You will have to go to the web version, but don’t hesitate using it for a deeper dive into your observation. Naturalists from all over the globe voluntarily share their knowledge and expertise by helping with identification. To reach out, you might look to see who are the leading identifiers, and tag one of them in a comment on your observation.
Tips for Making an Identifiable Observation:
• Trees: Get a close-up of the foliage, both top and bottom. Try to find a cone, flower or fruit to photograph. Get a close-up of the bark. Finally, get a photo of the whole tree to show its growth habit.
• Plants: A close-up of the leaves, stems, flower and fruit are all helpful. A shot to show habitat and growth habit is useful. Sometimes placing a sheet of paper or cloth behind the plant to isolate it will make for a cleaner, more identifiable image.
• Fungus, including lichens: Photograph the caps of mushrooms from above, and below to show gills or spore producing structure. A side view should show the ring and stipe. Removing the fruiting body (mushroom) doesn’t harm the fungus. Take the cap home, get a spore print, and submit a photo of it. Lichens fruiting bodies are also very helpful. Document the host species and habitat.
• Insects and arachnids: Here might be a test of your phone’s macro capability. Try to get a top, bottom, and side view. Most helpful is getting a photo of the mouth parts. Document the host species.
• Birds, reptiles, amphibians, mammals and fish: Get any shot you can. They don’t sit still for their portraits. Multiple photos are often useful for getting different aspects of the animal.
• Mollusks: If in salt water, document if intertidal (high, mid, low). If there is a shell, photograph all three axes. Snails are shy. Wait for them to emerge for a photo. Get photos of both sides of a bivalve’s hinge.
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