Exploring Biodiversity Through Citizen Science: A Case Study of Green Roofs at the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation Garden in Lisbon
Citizen science is rising and expanding as an approach to data collection, enabling the acquisition of data through the voluntary involvement of citizens in scientific activities. This study explores the effectiveness of citizen science in collecting biodiversity data in urban green infrastructure,...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Land |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/5/911 |
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| author | Diogo Oliveira Vitor Sousa Patricia Tiago Ana Leal Ana Paula Falcão Cristina Matos Silva |
| author_facet | Diogo Oliveira Vitor Sousa Patricia Tiago Ana Leal Ana Paula Falcão Cristina Matos Silva |
| author_sort | Diogo Oliveira |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Citizen science is rising and expanding as an approach to data collection, enabling the acquisition of data through the voluntary involvement of citizens in scientific activities. This study explores the effectiveness of citizen science in collecting biodiversity data in urban green infrastructure, focusing on a case study at the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation in Lisbon, which includes both green roofs and traditional garden areas. Data collected via the iNaturalist platform through structured and unstructured citizen science activities were analyzed to compare patterns of biodiversity observation. Results show that unstructured activities attract more participants but produce fewer observations per person, mainly focusing on more familiar taxa, such as birds. In contrast, structured events concede a higher number of observations per observer, including less commonly recorded taxa like insects, and provide greater coverage of green roofs, since routes are predefined. Seasonal and temporal trends were also noted, with a higher concentration of observations in spring and summer and a significant increase on weekends, indicating the influence of participants’ availability. Spatial observations show that combining gardens and green roofs provides continuous and rich ecosystems that are crucial for city urban planners. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ce08bbd415534d79933826a14ecfed1e |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2073-445X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Land |
| spelling | doaj-art-ce08bbd415534d79933826a14ecfed1e2025-08-20T01:56:31ZengMDPI AGLand2073-445X2025-04-0114591110.3390/land14050911Exploring Biodiversity Through Citizen Science: A Case Study of Green Roofs at the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation Garden in LisbonDiogo Oliveira0Vitor Sousa1Patricia Tiago2Ana Leal3Ana Paula Falcão4Cristina Matos Silva5CERIS Civil Engineering Research and Innovation for Sustainability, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001 Lisboa, PortugalCERIS Civil Engineering Research and Innovation for Sustainability, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal1cE3c—Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, CHANGE—Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal1cE3c—Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, CHANGE—Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, PortugalCERIS Civil Engineering Research and Innovation for Sustainability, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001 Lisboa, PortugalCERIS Civil Engineering Research and Innovation for Sustainability, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001 Lisboa, PortugalCitizen science is rising and expanding as an approach to data collection, enabling the acquisition of data through the voluntary involvement of citizens in scientific activities. This study explores the effectiveness of citizen science in collecting biodiversity data in urban green infrastructure, focusing on a case study at the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation in Lisbon, which includes both green roofs and traditional garden areas. Data collected via the iNaturalist platform through structured and unstructured citizen science activities were analyzed to compare patterns of biodiversity observation. Results show that unstructured activities attract more participants but produce fewer observations per person, mainly focusing on more familiar taxa, such as birds. In contrast, structured events concede a higher number of observations per observer, including less commonly recorded taxa like insects, and provide greater coverage of green roofs, since routes are predefined. Seasonal and temporal trends were also noted, with a higher concentration of observations in spring and summer and a significant increase on weekends, indicating the influence of participants’ availability. Spatial observations show that combining gardens and green roofs provides continuous and rich ecosystems that are crucial for city urban planners.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/5/911green roofsbiodiversitycitizen scienceecosystemsnature-based solutionsiNaturalist |
| spellingShingle | Diogo Oliveira Vitor Sousa Patricia Tiago Ana Leal Ana Paula Falcão Cristina Matos Silva Exploring Biodiversity Through Citizen Science: A Case Study of Green Roofs at the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation Garden in Lisbon Land green roofs biodiversity citizen science ecosystems nature-based solutions iNaturalist |
| title | Exploring Biodiversity Through Citizen Science: A Case Study of Green Roofs at the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation Garden in Lisbon |
| title_full | Exploring Biodiversity Through Citizen Science: A Case Study of Green Roofs at the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation Garden in Lisbon |
| title_fullStr | Exploring Biodiversity Through Citizen Science: A Case Study of Green Roofs at the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation Garden in Lisbon |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring Biodiversity Through Citizen Science: A Case Study of Green Roofs at the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation Garden in Lisbon |
| title_short | Exploring Biodiversity Through Citizen Science: A Case Study of Green Roofs at the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation Garden in Lisbon |
| title_sort | exploring biodiversity through citizen science a case study of green roofs at the calouste gulbenkian foundation garden in lisbon |
| topic | green roofs biodiversity citizen science ecosystems nature-based solutions iNaturalist |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/5/911 |
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