In 2008, the scientific community believed there was only one species of manta ray. That assumption quickly shifted when new research identified a second species, and more recently, a third. These are not small or hidden creatures—they are enormous animals, some stretching up to seven meters across—yet for years they remained largely misunderstood.

One of the most powerful tools used to study them is deceptively simple. Each manta ray has a unique pattern on its belly, much like a fingerprint. These markings allow researchers to identify individuals from photographs, many of which are submitted by members of the public. A single image can reveal where a manta ray has been seen before, how often it returns, whether it is reproducing, and even provide insights into its lifespan. This form of citizen science has become central to the work.

Asia Armstrong has spent years studying manta rays, yet they continue to surprise her in ways that feel both humbling and urgent. Her path into this work was not predetermined. Although she had always been drawn to the ocean, it was a single dive nearly two decades ago that changed everything. Encountering a manta ray for the first time left her captivated, and what struck her even more was how little was known about them. That realization led her back to university and eventually to Project Manta, where she has spent over a decade working to close those knowledge gaps.

More Information

https://www.unisc.edu.au/project-manta

https://ladyelliot.com.au/sustainability/project-manta/

https://sharkrayareas.org/

https://www.iucnredlist.org/

https://www.cbd.int/gbf/targets

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Bron Powell has spent years paddling through the winding channels of the Macquarie Marshes, drawn again and again to the raw wildness of the wetlands. The turning point came during the floods between 2020 and 2022, when the Marshes burst into life. What had always been a special place suddenly became extraordinary. Guiding a group of birdwatchers through the flooded landscape, Bron watched birdlife fill every corner of the water. One moment that stayed with her was a great crested grebe gliding past with a chick riding on its back while another chick struggled to keep up behind, pulled along in the parent’s wake because it had grown too big to fit on board. Scenes like that convinced Bron she wanted to bring more people into the Marshes by kayak.

More Information

https://www.facebook.com/MarshesTours

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We are always looking for more guests to tell us about interesting citizen science projects, research and events.

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Matt West has spent much of his life wading through the cold mountain streams of northeast Victoria in search of a frog few Australians will ever ounter. The spotted tree frog, Litoria spenceri, is small enough to sit on a thumb, yet its survival has become one of the most complex conservation challenges in the country.

The spotted tree frog inhabits granite boulder streams stretching from Lake Eildon in Victoria to Kosciuszko National Park in New South Wales, breeding in fast-flowing waterways between 300 and 1,100 metres elevation. Males grow to about 35 millimetres, females to 50. Their colouring ranges from bright green with gold flecks to mottled brown. In stable environments they can live for well over a decade. Stability, however, has become increasingly rare.

Photography Credit: Michael Williams. It's a Wildlife.

More Information

https://wildresearch.com.au/

https://findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/profile/768810-matt-west

https://www.zoo.org.au/

https://australiantroutfoundation.com.au/

https://www.nativefish.asn.au/

https://taungurung.com.au/

https://www.ddac.net.au/

If you enjoy this podcast, please like and subscribe to our show wherever you get your podcasts.

Leave us a review and share this show with your friends.

It really helps us to reach more citizen scientists, like you.

Contact the Show

We are always looking for more guests to tell us about interesting citizen science projects, research and events.

You can email us at: info@citizenscienceshow.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.