Just Google it: assessing the use of Google Images to describe geographical variation in visible traits of organisms

Describing spatial patterns of phenotypic traits can be important for evolutionary and ecological studies. However, traditional approaches, such as fieldwork, can be time-consuming and expensive. Information technologies, such as Internet search engines, could facilitate the collection of these data. Google Images is one such technology that might offer an opportunity to rapidly collect information on spatial patterns of phenotypic traits. We investigated the use of Google Images in extracting data on geographical variation in phenotypic traits visible from photographs. We compared the distribution of visual traits obtained from Google Images with four previous studies: colour morphs of black bear (Ursus americanus); colouration and spottiness in barn owl (Tyto alba); colour morphs of black sparrowhawk (Accipiter melanoleucus) and the distribution of hooded (Corvus corone) and carrion crows (Corvus cornix) across their European hybrid zone. Additionally, we develop and present a web ap...描述表型性状（phenotypic traits）的空间分布模式，对进化生物学与生态学研究而言具有重要意义。然而，诸如野外考察这类传统研究方法往往耗时且成本高昂。互联网搜索引擎等信息技术可为这类数据的采集提供便利，谷歌图片（Google Images）便是其中之一，有望助力研究者快速获取表型性状空间分布模式的相关信息。 本研究探讨了利用谷歌图片（Google Images）提取照片中可观测表型性状地理变异数据的可行性。我们将从谷歌图片获取的视觉性状分布数据，与四项既往研究展开比对：分别为美洲黑熊（Ursus americanus）的色型变异、仓鸮（Tyto alba）的羽色与斑点特征、黑食雀鹰（Accipiter melanoleucus）的色型变异，以及冠小嘴乌鸦（Corvus corone）与小嘴乌鸦（Corvus cornix）在欧洲杂交带的分布情况。 此外，本研究还开发并展示了一款网页应用程序（web ap）……