How Citizen Science Projects Contribute to Urban Biodiversity Monitoring and Conservation Frameworks—A German Case Study

Urban ecosystems provide diverse habitats for plants and animals. Policies can protect these ecosystems. To do this, policy frameworks need robust datasets to monitor and report on trends. Citizen science (CS) projects can make a valuable contribution by helping to build, refine, and supplement datasets. The overall aim of this study was to identify and characterize the contribution of CS projects to urban biodiversity monitoring and conservation frameworks in Germany. To gain an overview of the CS landscape in relation to urban biodiversity, we first examined German project platforms and were able to identify a geographical concentration in Berlin. We then focused on the contribution of CS to biodiversity monitoring in Berlin. We created an online questionnaire and conducted interviews with 22 Berlin-based CS project coordinators. In particular, we asked: How does their CS project contribute to the monitoring and conservation of urban biodiversity? What is the type of citizen engagement? What are the objectives of their CS projects, and what are their challenges? What are the outputs of their CS projects, and how do they publish their data? Finally, what is their knowledge of global, national, and local conservation frameworks? Our findings show that CS projects in Berlin are making a meaningful contribution to biodiversity monitoring. However, there is considerable potential for development, particularly in terms of awareness of policy frameworks and the sharing of data. We recommend increasing opportunities for exchange between policymakers and practitioners, and creating interfaces for data sharing to unlock the potential of CS projects for urban biodiversity conservation

Effects of offshore renewables on benthos: prioritizing the ‘known-unknowns’

International audienc

Effects of offshore renewables on benthos: prioritizing the ‘known-unknowns’

International audienc

Benthic effects of offshore renewables: identification of knowledge gaps and urgently needed research

As the EU’s commitment to renewable energy is projected to grow to 20% of energy generation by 2020, the use of marine renewable energy from wind, wave and tidal resources is increasing. This literature review (233 studies) (i) summarizes knowledge on how marine renewable energy devices affect benthic environments, (ii) explains how these effects could alter ecosystem processes that support major ecosystem services and (iii) provides an approach to determine urgent research needs. Conceptual diagrams were set up to structure hypothesized cause-effect relationships (i.e. paths). Paths were scored for (i) temporal and spatial scale of the effect, (ii) benthic sensitivity to these effects,(iii) the effect consistency and iv) scoring confidence, and consecutively ranked. This approach identified prominent knowledge gaps and research needs about (a) hydrodynamic changes possibly resulting in altered primary production with potential consequences for filter feeders, (b) the introduction and range expansion of non-native species (through stepping stone effects) and, (c) noise and vibration effects on benthic organisms. Our results further provide evidence that benthic sensitivity to offshore renewable effects is higher than previously indicated. Knowledge on changes of ecological functioning through cascading effects is limited and requires distinct hypothesis-driven research combined with integrative ecological modelling

Regional price levels and the agglomeration wage differential in western Germany

C15, J31, R23,