Tuesday, 18 February 2025 Citizen science serves as an effective tool for monitoring invasive species

Invasive species threaten biodiversity, the economy, and human health. Therefore, their detection is critical for their management, which requires extensive monitoring that often exceeds the capacity of professional scientists.

Individuals can significantly contribute by reporting new sightings using applications like eBird, Pl@ntNet, iNaturalist, and ArtPortalen and participating in citizen science initiatives.

An international study involving 30 researchers, part of the COST Alien CSI initiative—of which Assoc. Prof. Dr. Živa Fišer was a part—has demonstrated the crucial role of citizen science in the early detection of invasive species. Published in People and Nature, the study analyzed 600 official reports from 30 countries and compared them to over 220 million public-platform records.

This is the first study to measure the impact of citizen science on the early detection of invasive species. The findings revealed that citizen science platforms are highly effective. Official programs tend to detect European-regulated species, whereas the public is quicker to identify species already present in neighbouring countries or those that can be recognized without expert knowledge. For vertebrates (such as birds and mammals), the public is more likely to notice them before official monitoring does.

Based on these results, future recommendations suggest a holistic approach that combines professional monitoring with increased public involvement through citizen science. By working closely with platforms for reporting sightings and supporting their development, governments could create a more effective system for monitoring invasive species in the future.

However, citizen science is a crucial component of the solution for the early detection and effective management of invasive species.

Read more: besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com