We, as human beings, have done some pretty terrible things to our environment. Not only do we introduce non-native species to ecosystems, but we also hunt off their natural predators. The result is an overpopulation of the invasive species, which harms ecosystems both environmentally and economically.
Fortunately, there is a solution. Gulf Keeper is a mobile app for Android and iOS that encourages users to hunt invasive species in the spirit of competition and fun. Simply make an account and select your area. You’ll see a list of invasive species and hunting challenges pop up. Click “View Challenges” to begin. You’ll see a ranked list of participants for each challenge. Once you’ve caught an invasive specimen yourself, upload a photo to the app. The moderator will approve your hunt and your number will go up! This is a great chance to both engage in competition with others and help out your local environment.
Gulf Keeper: Hunting for the Greater Good. Brought to you by Team CSI Sarasota for the 2017 NASA Space Apps Challenge.
SpaceApps is a NASA incubator innovation program.