Exploring the actions of citizens as scientists through experimentation with aquaponics

117 Pages·2015·4.45 MB·English

by  Ria Follett

Exploring the actions of citizens as
scientists through experimentation
with aquaponics

Ria Follett BSc, PhD

Department of Environmental Sciences
Faculty of Science and Engineering
Macquarie University, North Ryde NSW 2109

This thesis submitted for the degree of Master of Philosophy
May 2015

Table of Contents

Figures ............................................................................................................................... iii
Tables ................................................................................................................................ v
Abstract .............................................................................................................................. vii
Certificate of candidate .............................................................................................................. viii
Acknowledgements ...................................................................................................................... ix
Publications ................................................................................................................................ x
Chapter 1:Introduction .................................................................................................................. 1
1.1. Background ................................................................................................................... 1
1.2. Specific Research Aims and Questions ......................................................................... 2
1.3. Thesis Structure ............................................................................................................. 2
Chapter 2:Background of Citizen Science .................................................................................... 4
2.1. Introduction ................................................................................................................... 4
2.2. History of Citizen Science ............................................................................................ 4
2.3. Classification of Citizen Science Projects ..................................................................... 6
2.4. Design Considerations .................................................................................................. 8
2.5. Data Validation ........................................................................................................... 11
2.6. Volunteer Motivation .................................................................................................. 16
2.7. Additional Benefits and Outcomes ............................................................................. 19
2.8. Conclusions ................................................................................................................. 21
Chapter 3:Scientific Publication Patterns .................................................................................... 22
3.1. Introduction ................................................................................................................. 22
3.2. Methods ....................................................................................................................... 22
3.3. Results and Discussions .............................................................................................. 24
3.4. Conclusions ................................................................................................................. 29
Chapter 4:Aquaponics ................................................................................................................. 30
4.1. Introduction ................................................................................................................. 30
4.2. Aquaculture ................................................................................................................. 30
4.3. Hydroponics ................................................................................................................ 30
4.4. How Aquaponics Work ............................................................................................... 31
4.5. Aquaponic Designs ..................................................................................................... 32
4.6. The Genesis of Aquaponics ........................................................................................ 33
4.7. Current Aquaponics Research ..................................................................................... 34
4.8. Satisfying Conflicting Water Parameters .................................................................... 40
4.9. Conclusions ................................................................................................................. 40
Chapter 5:Aquaponics Research Citizen Science Project ........................................................... 41
i
5.1. Introduction ................................................................................................................. 41
5.2. Methods ....................................................................................................................... 41
5.3. Other Aspects of the Project Design ........................................................................... 45
5.4. Results ......................................................................................................................... 46
5.5. Discussion ................................................................................................................... 56
5.6. Conclusions ................................................................................................................. 61
Chapter 6:Exploring how Citizens Research ............................................................................... 62
6.1. Introduction ................................................................................................................. 62
6.2. Methods ....................................................................................................................... 63
6.3. Results ......................................................................................................................... 66
6.4. Discussion ................................................................................................................... 73
6.5. Conclusions ................................................................................................................. 77
Chapter 7:Discussion and Conclusions ....................................................................................... 78
7.1. Research Questions ..................................................................................................... 78
7.2. Concluding Remarks ................................................................................................... 81
7.3. Recommendations ....................................................................................................... 82
References .............................................................................................................................. 84
Appendix A.Participants Quoted ................................................................................................. 96
Appendix B.Post Project Survey ................................................................................................. 97
Appendix C.Publications ............................................................................................................. 99
Appendix D.Consent Letter ....................................................................................................... 103
Appendix E.Ethics Approval ..................................................................................................... 104

ii
Figures
Figure 1. Map of Oak Trees from Volunteers and Professionals (Connors et al., 2012) ............ 10
Figure 2. Data Mashups in Disaster Management (Sotiriadis et al., 2010). ................................ 11
Figure 3. Increase in Number of Articles Published ................................................................... 24
Figure 4. Focus of Articles over Time ........................................................................................ 25
Figure 5. Typology of Case Study over Time ............................................................................. 26
Figure 6. Target of Case Study ................................................................................................... 27
Figure 7. Topic of Articles Re-Using Data ................................................................................. 28
Figure 8. Sources of Articles on Citizen Science ........................................................................ 29
Figure 9. The Aquaponics Cycle ................................................................................................. 31
Figure 10. Media Bed ................................................................................................................. 32
Figure 11. Floating Raft System (en.wikipedia.org) ................................................................... 32
Figure 12. Nutrient Film Technique (de.wikipedia.org) ............................................................. 32
Figure 13. Uptake of Nutrients by Plants at Various pH Levels (Backyard Aquaponics, 2012) 40
Figure 14. Homepage of the Website used as a Platform for Research ...................................... 42
Figure 15. Smartphone Measurement of Colour Levels ............................................................. 46
Figure 16. System and Participant Countries .............................................................................. 47
Figure 17. Types of Systems Built .............................................................................................. 47
Figure 18. Volume of Media Beds (Litres) ................................................................................. 48
Figure 19. Volume of Fish Tank ................................................................................................. 48
Figure 20. Average Volume of Fish Tank for Different System Types ..................................... 48
Figure 21. Overall Plant Success Rating ..................................................................................... 49
Figure 22. Fish Survey ................................................................................................................ 50
Figure 23. Types of Diary Entries ............................................................................................... 51
Figure 24. Comparing Fish Species Recorded in Survey and Diary ........................................... 52
Figure 25. Homemade Green House (from gene) and Pool Chemistry Results (pua) ................ 54
Figure 26. Percentage of Systems with a Diary Compared to the Age of the System ................ 55
Figure 27. Number of Diary and Survey Entries by Experienced and Novice Participants ....... 56
Figure 28 Site Pages Accessed by Members ............................................................................... 56
Figure 29. Post Project Survey of Aquaponics Experience ........................................................ 65
iii
Figure 30, BevOutside's Indoor System ...................................................................................... 66
Figure 31. Diary Contributions by Top Nine Contributors ......................................................... 66
Figure 32. Water Chemistry ........................................................................................................ 67
Figure 33. Extracts of BevOutside's Plant, Fish and Water Diaries ............................................ 68
Figure 34. System with Heat Problems ....................................................................................... 70
Figure 35. Water Temperature Compared to Air Temperature ................................................... 71
Figure 36. Post Survey Interest by Diary and Survey Participants. ............................................ 73

iv
Tables
Table 1. Alternative Citizen Science Classification of Projects .................................................... 7
Table 2. Summary of University and Community Based Aquaponics Research ........................ 36
Table 3. Topic Popularity in Aquaponics Forums (as at 12/10/2014) ........................................ 38
Table 4. Parameters that Affected Basil Growth......................................................................... 50
Table 5. Fish Survey Details for Jade Perch ............................................................................... 51
Table 6. Fish Diary ...................................................................................................................... 52
Table 7. Plant Survey – Kale....................................................................................................... 58
Table 8. Plant Survey - Broccoli ................................................................................................. 58
Table 9 Descriptive Statistics for Post-Survey Interest ............................................................... 72
Table 10 Responses to Post Project Survey ................................................................................ 97
Table 11. Post Project Survey Responses by Participation Type ............................................... 98

v
vi
Abstract

Scientists are increasingly collaborating with citizens to engage in science where, on their own,
they lack the resources to collect or analyse the data. In most of these collaborative projects,
citizens can be classified as science assistants, helping scientists in their endeavours. While this
can produce significant benefits for both the citizen and the scientist, the question arises as to
the extent that citizens can contribute to all aspects of the scientific process.
This thesis explores how citizens contribute to scientific discovery by experimenting at home in
aquaponics systems. Aquaponics allows fish and plants to be grown together providing fresh,
locally grown vegetables and fish to homes and communities. Despite the core principles being
well known, most systems are independently designed by individuals and show high levels of
innovation. There is significant scope for learning how system design, location and other factors
affect the success of these systems. The question arises as to whether these innovators are able
to join together to research this area by providing detailed on-line data that tracks their system
progress as well as analysing the collected dataset, proposing hypotheses, and resolving them
based on the available data.
From an aquaponics point of view, this was the first systematic study of how home based
systems, which comprise of 86% of all aquaponics systems, performed, informs the home
aquaponics industry and provides data for future analysis.
From a citizen science point of view, this study investigates the key question as to how citizens
contributed to science. The ways the citizens research was compared and contrasted with the
way scientists researched in the field of aquaponics, providing insights into areas that need
further consideration when endeavouring to involve citizens in all aspects of scientific research.

vii
Certificate of candidate

I certify that the work in this thesis ‘Exploring the actions of citizens as scientists through their
interest in experimentation with Aquaponics’ has not previously been submitted for a degree nor
has it been submitted as part of requirements for a degree to any other university or institution
other than Macquarie University.
I also certify that the thesis is an original piece of research and has been written by myself. Any
help and assistance that I have received in my research work and the preparation of the thesis
itself have been appropriately acknowledged.
The research was conducted under Ethics Committee approval (Ref number: 5201300594 dated
effective from 19th August 2013).

Ria Follett
11 May 2015

viii