Citizen science can add value to Phytophthora monitoring: five case studies from western North America

Phytophthora species are plant pathogens responsible for many notable biological invasions in agricultural, forests, and natural ecosystems. Detection monitoring invasive introductions of spp. is time resource intensive. Development citizen science detection programs can aid these efforts focused on reducing Phythophthora impacts. There multiple methods detecting suitable approaches such as, leaf sampling, stream baiting or soil collections. Here we summarize five active projects western North America where scientists aiding the research surrounding their Projects varied scope, scale, methods, capacity, but each project increased scientists’ abilities surveillance advanced knowledge species. Some were integrated with school programs, others involved hands-on training small groups, another approach invited mass participation from interested citizens. Overall, all had positive outcomes multiplied across education, monitoring, research. Together case studies demonstrate how amplify efforts, advance baseline knowledge, reduce impacts invasions.