Jena, 13.08.2026 – How does the maintenance of one’s own garden influence the local insect and plant world? As part of her doctoral thesis, biologist Maya Bosch is investigating biodiversity in Jena’s allotment gardens and is calling on citizens to participate.
- Project: Scientific survey “MikroSafari”
- Goal: Analysis of species diversity, microclimate, and soil activity in allotment gardens
- Methodology: Insect traps, microclimate loggers, fabric samples
- Participation: Online registration at umfrage.uni-leipzig.de
How the scientific data collection in the garden works
The “MikroSafari” project relies on so-called citizen science – the active involvement of citizens in scientific research. Allotment gardeners from the Jena urban area receive a special experimental kit to collect data directly in their plots.
The test equipment includes various tools for analyzing the ecosystem:
- Four arthropod traps: These are used to record arthropods such as beetles, spiders, or millipedes in order to draw conclusions about species composition.
- A microclimate logger: This small measuring station automatically and continuously records the temperature and soil moisture on-site.
- Fabric samples for soil activity: Special pieces of fabric are buried in the soil for two weeks. The weight change allows for a precise determination of how actively soil organisms are working.
Focus on climate change and urban climate
By distributing the allotment gardens across the entire city area, valuable scientific insights can be gained into how the local fauna is changing in the course of climate change and urban densification. Anyone wishing to support the project can access the online survey for MikroSafari participants directly here.
Importance of allotment gardens for the Jena urban climate
Allotment garden facilities play a central role in the ecological balance in Jena. In addition to their function as local recreation areas, the green spaces in the Saaletal serve as important cold air generation areas and stepping-stone biotopes for many animal and plant species. The research project is now systematically recording the extent to which different forms of garden management – such as near-natural gardening compared to heavily maintained lawns – promote biological diversity.
Source:
On safari through your own garden
Transparency note: This article was created automatically, editorially reviewed, and expanded with AI support.