Crowd-sourced science, where members of the public contribute data and effort to scientific research, is playing an increasingly important role in advancing our understanding of the natural world. One area where crowd-sourced science has made significant contributions is in the study of how new species form across space and time.

One of the most notable examples of crowd-sourced science in this field is the iNaturalist project, a global online platform where users can share and identify photographs of plants and animals. With over a million users and millions of observations contributed, iNaturalist has provided a wealth of data for researchers to study species distributions, identify new species, and track changes in biodiversity over time.

For example, a study published in the journal Nature in 2019 used iNaturalist data to identify 21 new species of spiders in the family Oonopidae. The study also found that these new species were more likely to be found in areas with high levels of human disturbance, suggesting that human activities may be driving speciation in some cases.

In another study, published in the journal Current Biology in 2020, researchers used iNaturalist data to track the spread of the invasive species Burmese python (Python bivittatus) in Florida. The study found that the python's range had expanded significantly over the past few decades, and that it was now found in a variety of habitats, including urban areas. This information is critical for managing the spread of invasive species and mitigating their impact on native ecosystems.

Crowd-sourced science is also being used to study the process of speciation in real time. For example, a project called the Galapagos Online Volunteer Project (GOVP) allows volunteers to transcribe historical field notes from the Galapagos Islands. This data is helping researchers to track changes in the populations of different species over time, and to identify the factors that may be driving speciation in the Galapagos.

In addition to providing valuable data for research, crowd-sourced science can also help to raise awareness of the importance of biodiversity and conservation. By engaging members of the public in the process of scientific discovery, crowd-sourced science can help to create a more informed and engaged citizenry, which is essential for addressing the challenges facing our planet.