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

Pocock, Michael J.O. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4375-0445; Adriaens, Tim; Bertolino, Sandro; Eschen, Rene; Essl, Franz; Hulme, Philip E.; Jeschke, Jonathan M.; Roy, Helen E. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6050-679X; Teixeira, Heliana; de Groot, Maarten. 2024 Citizen science is a vital partnership for invasive alien species management and research [in special issue: Invasion dynamics] iScience, 27 (1), 108623. 16, pp. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2023.108623

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2023.108623

Abstract/Summary

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 realise its potential across the biological invasion process and across ecosystems globally while meeting the needs of participants, local communities, scientists and decision-makers.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2023.108623
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Biodiversity (Science Area 2017-)
ISSN:	2589-0042
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.
Additional Keywords:	biosecurity, community science, invasion continuum, invasive alien species, monitoring, volunteers
NORA Subject Terms:	Ecology and Environment Data and Information
Date made live:	19 Dec 2023 11:13 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/536508

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2023.108623

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

Biodiversity (Science Area 2017-)

ISSN:

2589-0042

Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:

Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.

Additional Keywords:

biosecurity, community science, invasion continuum, invasive alien species, monitoring, volunteers