Examination of how citizen science can improve knowledge of endemic bats in Florida, USA, to support bat-friendly urban planning: A review

Urbanisation has resulted in habitat degradation and destruction for endemic species of bats in Florida, USA, and serves as a continued threat to bat populations and ecosystem health. Bats are affected by numerous factors that can be influenced by urban planning with many species being able to adapt to urban changes. Citizen science is an underutilised method for research on bats in the state and has been used to influence urban planning in other regions.

The improvement of urban planning to promote bat-friendly habitats in Florida, USA, is connected to citizen science and can be understood through knowledge of endemic bat species and their responses to urbanisation alongside identification of citizen science inclusion in the study of bats. This dissertation explores how published literature in the field can be utilised better through understanding of how human experience can influence this knowledge. A literature review followed by semi-structured interviews with three key informants in the field of bat conservation were carried out to identify knowledge of endemic bats, citizen science inclusion, and themes within qualitative data from interviews to further insight into how citizen science can improve urban planning. Human perspective and connection was identified as a key theme with both individuals’ and societal connections influencing the success of citizen science and urban planning.

This dissertation suggests that citizen science and urban planning are coevolving in response to the perspectives and connections that individuals and society have developed. Through the understanding of the evolution of these connections and perspectives, this coevolution can be altered to improve the urban environment for bats to mitigate effects of continued urbanisation.