Citizen science contributions to soil biodiversity research and conservation: insights from European studies

TY - JOUR

T1 - Citizen science contributions to soil biodiversity research and conservation

T2 - insights from European studies

AU - Barantal, Sandra

AU - Morillas, Lourdes

AU - Burton, Victoria J.

AU - Sheard, Julie K.

AU - Rienks, Froukje

AU - Auclerc, Apolline

AU - Perrin, William

AU - Sandén, Taru

AU - Ganault, Pierre

N1 - Data archiving: no NIOO data

PY - 2026/1

Y1 - 2026/1

N2 - Citizen science (CS) has emerged as a valuable approach for bridging knowledge gaps in biodiversity studies by expanding spatial and temporal coverage, yet remains underused in soil biodiversity monitoring. We conducted the first Europe-wide synthesis of CS initiatives dedicated to soil biodiversity, systematically reviewing published and unpublished projects to assess their contributions and limitations. A total of 126 papers and projects were analyzed across 36 countries, with Western European countries leading in study volume. National-scale studies dominated, with urban areas being the most studied land use type. Taxonomic coverage was broad but uneven, dominated by soil macrofauna (ants, gastropods and earthworms) and fungi. Methodologies ranged from opportunistic sampling to structured surveys, reflecting diverse scientific objectives and producing data of variable quality. Citizens contributed substantially to species identification, although verification practices varied widely, from expert validation to self-reported identifications without verification. Overall, our synthesis reveals a fragmented but dynamic CS landscape that, while providing valuable contributions, remains far from realizing its full scientific potential. Strengthening the role of CS in soil biodiversity research will require greater emphasis on taxonomic accuracy, with error rates systematically assessed. Emerging image-based identification tools, including community-based identification features and automated species recognition, offer promising avenues to enhance both taxonomic accuracy and participant engagement. Equally important is fostering inclusive participation to broaden spatial coverage and co-develop conservation-relevant indicators with stakeholders. Finally, dataset interoperability and metadata standardization are essential to integrate heterogeneous initiatives and unlock the full potential of CS for researchers and soil biodiversity monitoring frameworks.

AB - Citizen science (CS) has emerged as a valuable approach for bridging knowledge gaps in biodiversity studies by expanding spatial and temporal coverage, yet remains underused in soil biodiversity monitoring. We conducted the first Europe-wide synthesis of CS initiatives dedicated to soil biodiversity, systematically reviewing published and unpublished projects to assess their contributions and limitations. A total of 126 papers and projects were analyzed across 36 countries, with Western European countries leading in study volume. National-scale studies dominated, with urban areas being the most studied land use type. Taxonomic coverage was broad but uneven, dominated by soil macrofauna (ants, gastropods and earthworms) and fungi. Methodologies ranged from opportunistic sampling to structured surveys, reflecting diverse scientific objectives and producing data of variable quality. Citizens contributed substantially to species identification, although verification practices varied widely, from expert validation to self-reported identifications without verification. Overall, our synthesis reveals a fragmented but dynamic CS landscape that, while providing valuable contributions, remains far from realizing its full scientific potential. Strengthening the role of CS in soil biodiversity research will require greater emphasis on taxonomic accuracy, with error rates systematically assessed. Emerging image-based identification tools, including community-based identification features and automated species recognition, offer promising avenues to enhance both taxonomic accuracy and participant engagement. Equally important is fostering inclusive participation to broaden spatial coverage and co-develop conservation-relevant indicators with stakeholders. Finally, dataset interoperability and metadata standardization are essential to integrate heterogeneous initiatives and unlock the full potential of CS for researchers and soil biodiversity monitoring frameworks.

KW - Community science

KW - Data quality

KW - European research

KW - Public engagement

KW - Soil organisms

U2 - 10.1016/j.apsoil.2025.106608

DO - 10.1016/j.apsoil.2025.106608

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:105022267709

SN - 0929-1393

VL - 217

JO - Applied Soil Ecology

JF - Applied Soil Ecology

M1 - 106608

ER -