iSpot is a community platform for learning about wildlife and sharing observations. Users can contribute photos and descriptions for identification help, participate in discussions, and build their reputation through a points system. Additional resources include a course on local wildlife and new online identification keys to aid in species recognition.

1. www.ispot.org.uk

3. What is iSpot? iSpot is the place to learn more about wildlife and to share your interest with a friendly community. Take a look at the latest spots, start your own album of observations and get help identifying what you have seen.

5. What can you do on iSpot? Share your wildlife observations, and get help with identifications if needed Include a photo (if you have one) or description of what you’ve seen, and where and when you saw it

8. Join in the discussion You can see which identifications have been suggested and why, and join discussions about the wildlife you’ve seen

10. Gain a reputation! iSpot has a ‘reputation management’ system – this means that if you can name a species on iSpot, and someone else agrees with your identification, you gain ‘points’ that show up against your name

11. An active iSpot user:

12. Helping others If you know about wildlife you can help others by providing identifications, or agreeing with those already suggested You don’t have to be an expert, just to know something about some wildlife! If you’re involved with a wildlife recording group or society we can give you a badge that links to your website

13. British Lichen Society link

14. iSpot extras Neighbourhood Nature is a new course from the Open University that provides an introduction to local wildlife Part of the course involves making use of iSpot for wildlife observations Anyone can take the course, and financial help may be available

15. A course book and DVD are provided (this image is from the DVD section on monitoring seabirds)

16. iSpot extras Another project is developing new online identification keys for wildlife These are designed to help anyone identify what they’ve found The keys use an innovative Bayesian approach, making the keys easier to use

18. Get involved with iSpot Go to www.ispot.org.uk Browse the site to see the latest spots Register to use the site and join the discussions – it’s free and simple There are links on iSpot to Neighbourhood Nature, the online keys, and the rest of the OPAL projects

19. Acknowledgements iSpot is part of Open Air Laboratories (OPAL), and is funded by the Big Lottery Fund