Number of records published in GBIF
6.932
Contact
Administrative Contact 1
Telephone
+34932309500
Address
Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta 37-49
Barcelona
08003
Barcelona
ESPAÑA
observadoresdelmar@icm.csic.es
How to get there
ICM-CSIC: MINKA Citizen Observatory
-
Code
ICM-CSIC -
Registration date
13/11/2024 - Download the sheet
Description
MINKA Citizen Observatory is a community-based platform dedicated to environmental and biodiversity data collection, hosting one of the most important databases of Mediterranean marine species with special focus on the Catalan coast. Through its mobile app and website, citizens contribute geolocalized images, sounds and observations of both marine and terrestrial biodiversity. This platform enables users to collaboratively validate observations, including expert taxonomic identification. Once data meets quality criteria, it achieves "research grade" status and is shared with global infrastructures like the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). Recognized as a UN Acceleration Action for SDGs, MINKA contributes significantly to SDGs 11, 14, 15, and 17 by working with diverse stakeholders.Overall information
Goals
MINKA's database aims to make environmental data open and reusable, contributing to Sustainable Development Goals -SDGs- monitoring through locally-grounded observations. The volume and frequency of data collection achieved here is only possible through public participation, making citizen-generated data a powerful tool for understanding environmental changes.
Strengths
MINKA's primary strength lies in its distributed citizen science data acquisition system, where hundreds of contributors generate real-time biodiversity and environmental monitoring data. This continuous data stream creates a dynamic repository of biodiversity observations. MINKA implements a collaborative validation protocol that integrates empirical knowledge from field observers with taxonomic expertise from trained scientists. This synthesis of experiential and academic expertise enhances taxonomic resolution and data reliability. Through this collective intelligence framework, MINKA ensures standardized, quality-controlled data outputs. While MINKA operates as a distributed observation network across Europe and beyond, its most significant data aggregation occurs in Catalonia. The regional community has established MINKA as the principal database of Mediterranean marine species occurrences, demonstrating how localized citizen science efforts can generate significant scientific datasets.
Usage restrictions
https://minka-sdg.org/home
Taxonomic coverage
Scientific names
MINKA's database holds a broad taxonomic range of marine and terrestrial biodiversity, covering 27 phyla and 54 classes. The taxonomic scope spans from microscopic organisms to large vertebrates, including marine invertebrates (Mollusca, Echinodermata, Cnidaria, Arthropoda), marine vertebrates (Actinopterygii, Elasmobranchii), marine plants and algae (Chlorophyta, Rhodophyta, Ochrophyta), and microscopic organisms (Bacillariophyta, Ciliophora). The database also includes terrestrial biodiversity such as vascular plants (Magnoliophyta, Pinophyta), vertebrates (Aves, Mammalia, Amphibia, Reptilia), arthropods (Insecta, Arachnida), and fungi (Ascomycota, Basidiomycota). With particular strength in Mediterranean marine species, MINKA holds detailed records of benthic invertebrates, coastal fish communities, marine algae, seagrasses, and coastal birds. This extensive taxonomic coverage, reflects the diverse expertise of our community and capacity to generate data in multiple taxonomic groups.
Geographic description
MINKA dispone de observaciones de una diversa gama de regiones geográficas a nivel mundial. Si bien el conjunto de datos se encuentra en continua expansión
Collection period
23/06/1983 12/11/2024
Datasets of the collection/database
Types of objects
Organismos no fósiles
Digitalization
300.000
8500
100
No