Publications (FIS)

Status and trends of Germany's urban biodiversity

A nationwide assessment and identified knowledge gaps

Authored by

Thilo Wellmann, Sonja Knapp, Christian Albert, Monika Egerer, Leonie K. Fischer, Josef Kaiser, Stephanie Kramer-Schadt, André Mascarenhas, Christian Ristok, Maria Sporbert, Tanja M. Straka, Michael W. Strohbach, Christoph Bleidorn, Jori Maylin Marx, Willi E.R. Xylander, Peter Keil, Dagmar Haase

Abstract

Knowledge on the status and trends of biodiversity in urban areas is scattered and biased towards a few taxonomic groups, despite the fact that cities are where most humans get in touch with nature today. As part of the German Biodiversity Assessment (‘Faktencheck Artenvielfalt’), we conducted a nationwide review of published studies that recorded species occurrences in urban areas in Germany. We found that urban areas can host a large proportion of all plant, animal, and fungal species found in Germany, thus contributing to the nationwide conservation of biodiversity. However, compared to other habitat types outside of cities, the number of studies analysing the status and trends of urban biodiversity is relatively small. We could not identify a general trend over time for species diversity in German cities, based on the available studies. Even within individual species groups, there are combinations of declining, positive, and/or neutral trends. Information on population trends remains limited. Similarly, evidence of whether urbanisation promotes the homogenisation or differentiation of species groups is weak, with those groups investigated more thoroughly showing mixed patterns. With regard to biodiversity promotion, preserving the environmental heterogeneity that contributes to biodiversity is important, such as the maintenance of various habitat types (forests, parks, gardens, ponds, streams, etc.) that offer various food and nesting resources. Hence, the proportion of built-up impervious areas must remain limited, i.e. must not increase, and additional measures to promote biodiversity must be implemented. However, local authorities are largely ill-equipped to systematically monitor species occurrence across the variety of habitat types, or elements of green-blue infrastructure and taxonomic groups in cities. We discuss these findings, considering international urban biodiversity assessments and suggest key attributes of an effective national monitoring system to support urban biodiversity conservation and enhancement.

Details

Organisation(s): Institute of Environmental Planning
Landscape Planning and Ecosystem Services
External Organisation(s): Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (HU Berlin)
Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ)
German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig
Technical University of Munich (TUM)
University of Stuttgart
Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW)
Technische Universität Berlin
Leipzig University
Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg
Freie Universität Berlin (FU Berlin)
Technische Universität Braunschweig
University of Göttingen
Technische Universität Dresden (TUD)
State Museum of Natural History Görlitz
Biologische Station Westliches Ruhrgebiet e.V. (BSWR)
Type: Article
Journal: Basic and applied ecology
Volume: 89
Pages: 37-49
No. of pages: 13
ISSN: 1439-1791
Publication date: 12.2025
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities
Electronic version(s): https://doi.org/10.1016/j.baae.2025.10.002 (Access: Open )

Cite

Status and trends of Germany's urban biodiversity: A nationwide assessment and identified knowledge gaps. / Wellmann, Thilo; Knapp, Sonja; Albert, Christian et al.
In: Basic and applied ecology, Vol. 89, 12.2025, p. 37-49.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review

@article{73a512ff1301412dabcf19737a4597dc,
  title = "Status and trends of Germany's urban biodiversity: A nationwide assessment and identified knowledge gaps",
  abstract = "Knowledge on the status and trends of biodiversity in urban areas is scattered and biased towards a few taxonomic groups, despite the fact that cities are where most humans get in touch with nature today. As part of the German Biodiversity Assessment ({\textquoteleft}Faktencheck Artenvielfalt{\textquoteright}), we conducted a nationwide review of published studies that recorded species occurrences in urban areas in Germany. We found that urban areas can host a large proportion of all plant, animal, and fungal species found in Germany, thus contributing to the nationwide conservation of biodiversity. However, compared to other habitat types outside of cities, the number of studies analysing the status and trends of urban biodiversity is relatively small. We could not identify a general trend over time for species diversity in German cities, based on the available studies. Even within individual species groups, there are combinations of declining, positive, and/or neutral trends. Information on population trends remains limited. Similarly, evidence of whether urbanisation promotes the homogenisation or differentiation of species groups is weak, with those groups investigated more thoroughly showing mixed patterns. With regard to biodiversity promotion, preserving the environmental heterogeneity that contributes to biodiversity is important, such as the maintenance of various habitat types (forests, parks, gardens, ponds, streams, etc.) that offer various food and nesting resources. Hence, the proportion of built-up impervious areas must remain limited, i.e. must not increase, and additional measures to promote biodiversity must be implemented. However, local authorities are largely ill-equipped to systematically monitor species occurrence across the variety of habitat types, or elements of green-blue infrastructure and taxonomic groups in cities. We discuss these findings, considering international urban biodiversity assessments and suggest key attributes of an effective national monitoring system to support urban biodiversity conservation and enhancement.",
  keywords = "Biodiversity assessment, Biodiversity dynamics, Biotic homogenisation, Conservation, Germany, Monitoring, Species richness, Urban biodiversity",
  author = "Thilo Wellmann and Sonja Knapp and Christian Albert and Monika Egerer and Fischer, {Leonie K.} and Josef Kaiser and Stephanie Kramer-Schadt and Andr{\'e} Mascarenhas and Christian Ristok and Maria Sporbert and Straka, {Tanja M.} and Strohbach, {Michael W.} and Christoph Bleidorn and Marx, {Jori Maylin} and Xylander, {Willi E.R.} and Peter Keil and Dagmar Haase",
  note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025",
  year = "2025",
  month = dec,
  doi = "10.1016/j.baae.2025.10.002",
  language = "English",
  volume = "89",
  pages = "37--49",
  journal = "Basic and applied ecology",
  issn = "1439-1791",
  publisher = "Elsevier GmbH"
}