Citizen Science as a Tool in Biological Recording—A Case Study of Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle

Abstract

Non-native invasive species frequently appear in urban and non-urban ecosystems and may become a threat to biodiversity. Some of these newcomers are introduced accidentally, and others are introduced through a sequence of events caused by conscious human decisions. Involving the general public in biodiversity preservation activities could prevent the negative consequences of these actions. Accurate and reliable data collecting is the first step in invasive species management, and citizen science can be a useful tool to collect data and engage the public in science. We present a case study of biological recording of tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle) using a participatory citizen model. The first goal in this case study was to develop a cheap, widely accessible, and effective inventory method, and to test it by mapping tree of heaven in Croatia. A total of 90.61 km of roads and trails was mapped; 20 single plants and 19 multi-plant clusters (mapped as polygons) were detected. The total infested area was 2610 m 2 . The second goal was to educate citizens and raise awareness of this invasive species. The developed tool and suggested approach aided in improving invasive risk management in accordance with citizen science principles and can be applied to other species or areas.

Citizen science versus professional data collection: Comparison of approaches to mosquito monitoring in Germany

“…Concerning Figure 4, we neither found any published data nor heard from colleagues on earlier first records of A. japonicus or A. albopictus in hitherto unpopulated federal states after 2011 and therefore can conclude that both invasive species are predominantly detected by the ‘Mückenatlas’. This citizen science project has thus become an invaluable tool for surveying invasive mosquitoes, corroborating recent findings of the usefulness of passive surveillance for dealing with biological invasions (Hester & Cacho, 2017; Sladonja & Poljuha, 2018). As a practical example of management implications and the interplay of both monitoring methods, the city of Erding in Bavaria initiated eradication measurements in a cemetery after sampling provided evidence of local reproduction.…”

“…Species only found by active monitoring (Anopheles algeriensis, Aedes diantaeus, Culex martinii and Uranotaenia unguiculata) are either rare, bound to specific habitats outside urban areas, exophilic or do not feed on humans (Becker et al, 2010). The rediscovery of A. algeriensis and C. martinii (Kuhlisch et al, 2018b;Tippelt et al, 2018) This citizen science project has thus become an invaluable tool for surveying invasive mosquitoes, corroborating recent findings of the usefulness of passive surveillance for dealing with biological invasions (Hester & Cacho, 2017;Sladonja & Poljuha, 2018). As a practical example of management implications and the interplay of both monitoring methods, the city of Erding in Bavaria initiated eradication measurements in a cemetery after sampling provided evidence of local reproduction.…”

Considering urban uses at a fine spatial resolution to understand the distribution of invasive plant species in cities

“…altissima as in other studies (Sladonja and Poljuha 2018). We mainly observed spontaneous individuals of this species.…”

Buzzing Homes: Using Citizen Science Data to Explore the Effects of Urbanization on Indoor Mosquito Communities

“…Regarding urban ecology, data collected by citizens have been used in many studies, such as investigating the biodiversity of taxa like birds [44] or phorid flies [45], tracking invasive species [46], or initiating conservation action [47]. Many citizen science projects are aimed at monitoring and controlling mosquitoes as they are easily identifiable and people are personally concerned due to health implications or nuisance.…”