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Article analysis:

The article "Public Internet-connected cameras used as a cross-continental ground-based plant phenology monitoring system" presents a relatively simple and inexpensive approach for detecting phenological events across North America utilizing public, freely available Internet-connected cameras. The authors argue that this approach can augment existing satellite and survey-based observations, which are either ground-based for small-scale, high precision but labor-intensive measurements or remote sensing-based for large-scale but low spatial resolution measurements.

The article provides a comprehensive overview of the challenges associated with current phenology monitoring methods and the limitations of existing technologies for observing phenology. The authors argue that the development of inexpensive, instrument-based approaches for field measurement is necessary to advance large-scale phenology monitoring.

However, the article has some potential biases and missing points of consideration. For example, the authors do not discuss the potential risks associated with using public internet-connected cameras for ecological applications. There may be privacy concerns associated with using these cameras without obtaining consent from individuals who may appear in the images captured by these cameras.

Additionally, while the authors argue that visible-light digital cameras hold promise for scaling up ground-based measurements, they do not explore counterarguments or potential limitations associated with this approach. For example, it is unclear how well this approach would work in areas with limited internet connectivity or in regions where there are few public internet-connected cameras available.

Furthermore, while the authors provide evidence to support their claims about the limitations of existing technologies for observing phenology and the need for new approaches to advance large-scale phenology monitoring, they do not provide sufficient evidence to support their claims about the effectiveness of using public internet-connected cameras for ecological applications.

Overall, while the article provides valuable insights into new approaches to advance large-scale phenology monitoring, it has some potential biases and missing points of consideration that should be addressed in future research.