Facebook may be able to assist researchers in understanding the creep of invasive species in poorly monitored areas. New research incorporated linked Facebook photos with GPS locations and citizen science data for invasive species to determine where invasive species exist across the landscape in Bangladesh. Without Facebook, researchers lacked data on 23 species. When Facebook photos were included, two-thirds of species had more occurrence data than they would have had if the Facebook photos were not used. Often, Facebook photos highlighted occurrences of invasive species in urban human-impacted areas. Facebook photos increased the ability for scientists to tell how far invasive species had spread and demonstrate the currently untapped potential for social media to enhance future invasive species monitoring.
