Pedro Morais

Dr. Pedro Morais

Marine Science Institute, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Minnesota, USA
orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

24Years (2003-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

View All Publications
27 January 2021 in Frontiers in Environmental Science
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
João EncarnaçãoJoão Encarnação
João Encarnação
MTMaria Alexandra Teodósio
Maria Alexandra Teodósio
Pedro MoraisPedro Morais
Pedro Morais
Biological invasions are among the most challenging ecological and conservation riddles of our times. Fortunately, citizen science projects became a valuable tool to detect non-indigenous species (NIS), document their spread, prevent dispersion, and eradicate localized populations. We evaluated the most undisputed definitions of citizen science and proposed that a combination of two of them is a better reflection of what citizen science has become. Thus, citizen science is any environmental and/or biological data collection and analysis, including data quality control, undertaken by members of the general public, as individuals or as organized groups of citizens, with the guidance and/or assistance of scientists toward solving environmental and/or community questions. With this review, we also assessed how citizen science has been advancing biological invasions research and its focus, by analyzing 126 peer-reviewed articles that used citizen science methods or data concerning NIS. Most of the articles studied terrestrial species (68%) and terrestrial plants were the most studied group (22.7%). Surprisingly, most first detection reports were of non-indigenous marine fish probably due to the constraints in accessing aquatic ecosystems which delays the detection of new NIS. Citizen science projects running over broad geographical areas are very cost-effective for the early detection of NIS, regardless of the studied environment. We also discuss the applicability and need to adapt the methods and approaches toward the studied ecosystem and species, but also the profile of the participating citizens, their motivations, level of engagement, or social status. We recommend authors to better acknowledge the work done by contributing citizens, and the putative limitations of data generated by citizen science projects. The outreach planning of citizen science projects is also evaluated, including the use of dedicated web platforms vs. pre-existent and disseminated web platforms, while discussing how such outreach actions can be maximized. Lastly, we present a framework that contextualizes the contributions of citizen science, scientific research, and regional and national stakeholders toward the integrated management of biological invasions.

1 February 2018 in Science of The Total Environment
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
Pedro MoraisPedro Morais
Pedro Morais
MRMartin Reichard
Martin Reichard

1 October 2006 in Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
Ana FariaAna Faria
Ana Faria
Pedro MoraisPedro Morais
Pedro Morais
MCM. Alexandra Chícharo
M. Alexandra Chícharo

1 March 2009 in Science of The Total Environment
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
Pedro MoraisPedro Morais
Pedro Morais
MCMaria Alexandra Chícharo
Maria Alexandra Chícharo
LCLuís Chícharo
Luís Chícharo

1 December 2016 in Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
Maria TeodosioMaria Teodosio
Maria Teodosio
CPClaire B. Paris
Claire B. Paris
EWEric Wolanski
Eric Wolanski
Pedro MoraisPedro Morais
Pedro Morais

1 October 2006 in Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
MCM. Alexandra Chícharo
M. Alexandra Chícharo
LCLuis Chícharo
Luis Chícharo
Pedro MoraisPedro Morais
Pedro Morais