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Review
. 2023 Dec 3;27(1):108623.
doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108623. eCollection 2024 Jan 19.

Citizen science is a vital partnership for invasive alien species management and research

Michael J O Pocock  1 , Tim Adriaens  2 , Sandro Bertolino  3 , René Eschen  4 , Franz Essl  5 , Philip E Hulme  6 , Jonathan M Jeschke  7   8 , Helen E Roy  1   9 , Heliana Teixeira  10 , Maarten de Groot  11
Affiliations
Review

Citizen science is a vital partnership for invasive alien species management and research

Michael J O Pocock et al. iScience. .

Abstract

Invasive alien species (IAS) adversely impact biodiversity, ecosystem functions, and socio-economics. Citizen science can be an effective tool for IAS surveillance, management, and research, providing large datasets over wide spatial extents and long time periods, with public participants generating knowledge that supports action. We demonstrate how citizen science has contributed knowledge across the biological invasion process, especially for early detection and distribution mapping. However, we recommend that citizen science could be used more for assessing impacts and evaluating the success of IAS management. Citizen science does have limitations, and we explore solutions to two key challenges: ensuring data accuracy and dealing with uneven spatial coverage of potential recorders (which limits the dataset's "fit for purpose"). Greater co-development of citizen science with public stakeholders will help us better realize its potential across the biological invasion process and across ecosystems globally while meeting the needs of participants, local communities, scientists, and decision-makers.

Keywords: Ecology; Natural sciences; Nature conservation.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

None
Graphical abstract
Figure 1
Figure 1
How citizen science varies across the biological invasion process (A) The stages of the process of invasive alien species (IAS) spread and establishment and the consequent management requirements (based on Roy et al.3). (B) Different types of information are required across the stages of the biological invasion process. (C) The attributes of citizen science are likely to vary across the stages of the biological invasion process, as illustrated here based on the authors’ experience. Specifically we consider participant motivation, required skills, and the contribution to IAS policy and management. The stages of the invasion process are shaded across sections a, b, and c. ∗Coverage by citizen science shows (in black) the proportion of projects addressing each knowledge need from 103 IAS citizen science projects from Europe. See Table S1 for full details.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Examples of resources produced by national and local government agencies in New Zealand to raise awareness and encourage the reporting of an invasive alien weed (moth plant Araujia sericifera), invertebrate (brown marmorated stinkbug Halyomorpha halys), and vertebrate (Bennetts wallaby Macropus rufogriseus), and a fungal pathogen (myrtle rust Austropuccinia psidii) Note the gamified, competitive approach used to encourage school children to report moth plant Araujia sericifera.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Summarizing the possible solutions for inaccurate species identifications These are discussed in the main text. We have indicated the main knowledge needs addressed by each proposed solution.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Summarizing the possible solutions for uneven spatial coverage of recorders as discussed in the main text We have indicated the main knowledge needs addressed by each proposed solution. The small map indicating uneven coverage of reports shows data from Pocock & Evans (2014) for London and south-east England.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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References

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