This readme.txt file was generated on <20250131> by Recommended citation for the data: ------------------- GENERAL INFORMATION ------------------- 1. Title of Dataset Zebra Mussel Safari: A Participatory Science Program to Guide Management Decisions 2. Author Information Principal Investigator Contact Information Name: Sawyer Lorentz Institution: University of Minnesota Address:135 Skok Hall 2003 Upper Buford Circle St. Paul, MN 55108 Email: loren637@umn.edu ORCID: 0009-0008-4632-7216 Associate or Co-investigator Contact Information Name: Megan Weber Institution: University of Minnesota Extension; Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center, Andover, MN, USA E-mail: mmweber@umn.edu ORCID: 0000-0003-3888-9514 Alex Bajcz Institution: University of Minnesota, Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology; Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center, Saint Paul, MN, USA Address:235 Skok Hall 2003 Upper Buford Circle St. Paul, MN 55108 E-mail: bajcz003@umn.edu ORCID: 0000-0002-5909-4676 Name: Nicholas B. D. Phelps Institution: University of Minnesota, Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology; Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center, Saint Paul, MN, USA Address:235 Skok Hall 2003 Upper Buford Circle St. Paul, MN 55108 E-mail: phelp083@umn.edu ORCID: 0000-0003-3116-860X 3. Date published or finalized for release: 2025/01/31 4. Date of data collection (single date, range, approximate date) 2023/06/01 - 2024/09/30 5. Geographic location of data collection (where was data collected?): Minnesota 6. Information about funding sources that supported the collection of the data: Funding for this project was provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center (MAISRC) and the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR). 7. Overview of the data (abstract): The Zebra Mussel Safari program is a participatory science initiative aimed at monitoring zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) populations within Minnesota lakes. This dataset includes materials designed to support and ease volunteers' participation in the program. Additionally, the dataset includes zebra mussel abundance data collected from the seven Minnesota lakes involved in the 2023 program. -------------------------- SHARING/ACCESS INFORMATION -------------------------- 1. Licenses/restrictions placed on the data: CC0 1.0 Universal 2. Links to publications that cite or use the data: N/A 3. Was data derived from another source? no If yes, list source(s): 4. Terms of Use: Data Repository for the U of Minnesota (DRUM) By using these files, users agree to the Terms of Use. https://conservancy.umn.edu/pages/policies/#drum-terms-of-use --------------------- DATA & FILE OVERVIEW --------------------- 1. File List A. Filename: countdata.zip Short description: The CSV file contains zebra mussel abundance data for the 2023 season in which four counting methods were compared: manual hand counts, camera photos analyzed via CountThings, participant-submitted photos analyzed via CountThings, and camera photos manually adjusted for any errors in CountThings. The data spans across the 7 Minnesota lakes participating in the 2023 season. Additionally, a CSV file for the 2024 season is included, containing zebra mussel count data collected using the participant-submitted photos from 15 Minnesota lakes. B. Filename: participant_resources.zip Short description: These data contain the materials provided to volunteers, including a photo analysis background template, installation instructions, views of the shiny app used for submission, and a survey. C. Filename: Zebra Mussel Safari Videos.zip Short Description: Contains a series of 4 videos used to instruct participants on the tasks D. Filename: 2023 program report.pdf Short Description: Report for the 2023 Zebra Mussel Safari program E. Filename: 2024 program report.pdf Short Description: Report for the 2024 Zebra Mussel Safari program F. Filename: Supplementary Figures.pdf Short Description: The supplementary figures present zebra mussel abundance data from the 2023 and 2024 programs. Table 1 summarizes average mussel counts per sampler across lakes in 2024, while Figures 1 and 2 illustrate settlement patterns on different sampler plates and surfaces from the 2023 program. All counts were derived from volunteer-collected images using the CountThings software at the end of each summer season. 2. Relationship between files: All used for the Zebra Mussel Safari program. File tree: . ├── 2023 program report.pdf ├── 2024 program report.pdf ├── Readme_published_V5.txt ├── Zebra Mussel Safari Videos.zip │   ├── #1 Zebra Mussel Safari Introduction.mp4 │   ├── #2Sampler Assembly.mp4 │   ├── #3Sampler Deployment Guide.mp4 │   └── #4Photo Submission Guide.mp4 ├── countdata.zip │   ├── ZMSafari24 - ZMSafari24_v2.csv │   └── ZM_Safari_Counts23 - ZMsafari23.csv └── participant_resources.zip ├── 2023 participant survey.pdf ├── 2023 safari app.pdf ├── 2024 participant survey.pdf ├── 2024 safari app.pdf ├── Photo Submission Template.pdf ├── Photo submision instructions.pdf ├── flier 2024.pdf └── installation instructions.pdf -------------------------- METHODOLOGICAL INFORMATION -------------------------- 1. Description of methods used for collection/generation of data: Participants deployed zebra mussel samplers off their docks from June to mid-September to quantify juvenile settlement. Once retrieved, they photographed the samplers and uploaded the images to an online application for us to complete photo analysis. 2. Methods for processing the data: Photos were processed through CountThings software. 3. Instrument- or software-specific information needed to interpret the data: CountThings 4. Standards and calibration information, if appropriate: Template code: Mussels ID:784 5. Environmental/experimental conditions: n/a 6. Describe any quality-assurance procedures performed on the data: We joined volunteers on-site to manually count mussels using a magnifying glass and also to capture images with a high-resolution camera in a light-controlled photo box. The manual counts served as a control for comparison against the photo analysis, while the high-resolution camera images represented a “best-case scenario” for picture quality based on optimal lighting, consistent overhead distance from the plate surface, and minimal shadowing. 7. People involved with sample collection, processing, analysis and/or submission: Lake association members from 15 Minnesota lakes captured photos for MAISRC staff to process. ----------------------------------------- DATA-SPECIFIC INFORMATION FOR: ZM_Safari_Counts23 - ZMsafari23.csv ----------------------------------------- 1. Number of variables: 8 2. Number of cases/rows: 372 3. Missing data codes: Code/symbol: ERROR Definition: CountThings software was unable to process the photo. 4. Variable List A. Name: lake_id Description: lake the data was collected at Value labels: 1-7 for volunteer privacy B. Name: site id Description: The sampling site within each lake the data was collected at Value labels:1-20 (depending on number of samplers) C. Name: plate Description: The plate on the sampler in which the data is collected from Value labels: Top middle lower D. Name: surface Description: The surface on each plate in which the data is collected from Value labels: upper or lower E. Name: participant Description:The zebra mussel abundance from participant submitted photos processed in CoutThings.. Value labels: zebra mussels F. Name: Camera Description: The zebra mussel abundance from camera photos processed in CountThings. Value labels: zebra mussels G. Name: Adjusted Description: The zebra mussel abundance from camera photos and manually adjusted in CountThings for any missing counts. Value labels: zebra mussels H. Name: manual Description: The zebra mussel abundance from countingn zebra mussel abundance by hand (without CountThings software). Value labels: zebra mussels ----------------------------------------- DATA-SPECIFIC INFORMATION FOR: ZMSafari24 - ZMSafari24_v2.csv ----------------------------------------- 1. Number of variables: 9 2. Number of cases/rows: 143 3. Missing data codes: Code/symbol:N/A 4. Variable List lake_ID site_ID TU TL MU ML BU BL samp_tot al A. Name: lake_id Description: lake the data was collected at Value labels: 1-15 for volunteer privacy B. Name: site id Description: The sampling site within each lake the data was collected at Value labels:1-20 (depending on number of samplers) C. Name: TU Description: The top plate upper surface Value labels: count of zebra mussels D. Name: TL Description: The top plate lower surface Value labels:count of zebra mussels E. Name: MU Description:The middle plate upper surface Value labels: count of zebra mussels F. Name: ML Description: The middel plate lower surface Value labels: count of zebra mussels G. Name:BU Description: The bottom plate upper surface Value labels: count of zebra mussels H. Name: BL Description: The bottom plate lower surface Value labels: count of zebra mussels