Twitter as a Modern Tool for Discovering New Species
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Chapter 1: The Evolution of Discovery
In today's digital age, the traditional method of uncovering new species through physical exploration seems outdated. According to recent statistics, a staggering 1.2 trillion photographs were captured globally in 2017 alone. Naturally, many of these images end up on social media platforms. But it raises a question: what drives someone to photograph such tiny creatures as mites?
This curiosity is arguably more intriguing than the fact that scientists are now identifying new species through social media channels. However, this isn't solely about my perspective; it's about yours too. Let me introduce you to Ameronothorus retweet, better known as the Retweet Mite:
Section 1.1: The Role of Social Media in Biodiversity
A Japanese user recently shared a photo of mites found on a rocky beach in Tottori, drawing attention to the potential of social media in species discovery. This illustrates how platforms like Twitter have become an unexpected ally in biological research.
Subsection 1.1.1: The Twitter Mite Phenomenon
Austrian biologist Tobias Pfingstl, who specializes in mites, is responsible for naming these remarkable creatures, each measuring merely a millimeter. Both the Twitter Mite and the Retweet Mite were first documented by two different enthusiasts in Japan. The pictures eventually caught the eye of a researcher at a Japanese university, who then contacted Pfingstl for further investigation.
Section 1.2: The Impact of Digital Discovery
While Pfingstl notes that social media has only facilitated the discovery of a few new plant and animal species, it's worth mentioning that approximately 100 to 200 new mite species are identified each year, in addition to the 50,000 known species.