Froglife's amphibian and reptile records from the Dragon Finder App for Great Britain in 2016-2020 (inclusive)

Froglife

Description

Amphibian and reptile species recorded via Froglife's Dragon Finder App.

Froglife is a UK based nationwide conservation charity with a focus on UK amphibians and reptiles which aims to ëtransform landscapes, transform lives and transform researchí. Since 1989 Froglife has been at the heart of efforts to conserve native amphibians and reptiles bringing a central voice for public advice on issues surrounding their conservation. Find out more here: https://www.froglife.org/. Froglife's Dragon Finder App enables the public to easily identify and record sightings of amphibians and reptiles. It is these records demonstrated in this dataset. Get the App here: https://www.froglife.org/dragon-finder-app/

Geographic Description

Data coverage is from England, Scotland and Wales. Records may be biased towards populated areas, especially within the south east of England. Location data were collected from moblie phones using GPS coordinates so are accurate to the nearest 1 km. This is presence only data and abscence of a species cannot be inferred.

Purpose

The purpose of the Froglife Dragon Finder App is to increase recording of amphibian and reptile observations by members of the public across the UK. Through in person activities delivered through Froglife projects and through online promotional activities people are encouraged to submit sightings of amphibians and reptiles that they see anywhere from back gardens and allotments to National Parks.

Data quality

Recorders can use the inbuilt identifcation key to improve species identifcation at any lifestage. Data have been uploaded from mobile phone devices using GPS coordinates so location and date information is likely to be accurate. Species identification was confirmed by the public using the Dragon Finder app. Experienced Froglife staff/volunteers then verify all submissions allocating each a validation status inline with NBN criteria. Records deemed ëunacceptedí are not included. The identification of common species is likely to be correct, but the data is citizen science led thus open to varying degrees of accuracy particularly with less common species.

Methods

Members of the public recorded the amphibian and reptile species observed. Records were submitted via the Dragon Finder App and data were downloaded into Microsoft Access. Data were checked and location records verified using photos and distributional records for each species.

Citation

Froglife ([Insert download year]). Froglife's amphibian and reptile records from the Dragon Finder App for Great Britain in 2016-2020 (inclusive). Occurrence dataset on the NBN Atlas

Rights

Sensitive species (including smooth snake, sand lizard, adder, natterjack toad, north American bullfrog and pool frog) records are blurred to 10km.

Information withheld

Access to this dataset is restricted for the following reasons. Some of the information held within this dataset related to species that are vulnerable to human disturbance or prejudice. At this time the data provider believes that full disclosure to the public would lead to environmental harm.

Digitised records