Data for: A National-scale Dataset of Arable Plant Abundance from Citizen Science Surveys of Swedish Field Margins

• Data are openly accessible

• Rebecca C. Örnberg - Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences - Department for Crop Production Ecologu

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• Alexander Menegat - Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences - Department of Crop Production Ecology

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• Darwin T. Hickman - Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences - Department of Crop Produktion Ecology

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• Alistair G. Auffret - Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences - Department of Ecology

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• Johan Nilsson - Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences - Swedish Species Information Centre
• Gunnar Nyborg - Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences - Division of IT
• Sofie Wikberg - Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences - Swedish Species Information Centre
• Jan Y. Andersson - Swedish Botanical Society
• Sebastian Sundberg - Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences - Swedish Species Information Centre

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• Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

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• SLU.vpe.2026.5.2.IÄ-1

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• English

• Individual

Plants growing in Swedish field margins.

• Ecological study
• Observational study

The survey was done as a collaboration between the Swedish Botanical Society and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences SLU. Volunteer botanists could survey fields of their own choosing or from a "priority" grid. The grid was created to unsure an even spread across Sweden and reduce the risk of bias. All field types were of interest, except for pasture and permanent grassland. Surveyors measured out a 100*1 m transect at the edge of the ploughed part of the field edge, and all plants within this transect were noted and counted. Additionally, surveyors took note of soil type, growing crop, management type, and the number of field corners and entrances along the transect. The surveyor could also give comments to the site, if they observed soemthing of interest (e.g herbicide damage). Findings were reported through the project "Åkerogräsinventeringen" on the Swedish Species Information Centre.

• Total universe/Complete enumeration

Choice of fields: There were two ways for surveyors to choose a field. They could either choose one themselves, or they could pick one from a priority grid that was evenly spread across Sweden (where there is arable land). All field types were of interest, with the exception of pastures and permanent grassland. Choice of individuals: In the field, all plants that were rooted in the measured transect were noted. They were counted or estimated for abundance when counting was not possible. The surveyor was encouraged to identify the species to as much detail as they could, but sections, species complex and determination to genus were also accepted. Data cleaning: During cleaning, faulty coordinates and registrations were corrected in communication with the surveyor of that field, and/or by comparing to existing databases. In the cases where uncertainties remained, we elected to remove the site from the cleaned version of the dataset. This includes cases where: * It was not possible to say with certainty which field had been surveyed. * Plants had not been counted and only noted. * The field was surveyed after harvest. In some cases, single entries were removed from the cleaned and filtered dataset. This includes: * Woody plants. * If it was likely the plant had been sown (e.g. Phleum pratense in a field where grass seeds had been sown).

• 2020 - 2023

24

7364

• Numeric
• Text
• Geospatial

Non-participant field observation

Survey data was collected by volonteers from the Swedish Botanical Society. Surveyors could freely choose a field to survey, but were encouraged to not choose fields randomly (for example by picking a field from a map). Another option was to choose a field from a priority grid, that was created to improve coverage and statistical reproducibility. In the field, surveyors measured out 100 meters at the edge of the ploughed part of the field, and 1 meter in (towards the centre of the field), and noted the coordinates for the middle of this transect. All plants found within this transect were noted and their abundance estimated. Surveyors also noted relevant field parameters (soil type, standing crop, management). The surveyor could give comments to the field, for example if something looked to have been sown there, if herbicides had been used, or other things they deemed noteworthy. All inventory data was reported to the project "Åkerogräsinventering" at the Swedish Species Information Centre.

2020 - 2023

• Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

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• Sweden

Swedish Species Information Centre

• Swedish Botanical Society

• Natural sciences
• Botany
• Ecology
• Agricultural and veterinary sciences
• Agricultural science

• Biota

• Plant population
• Plant biology
• Ecological stocktaking
• Plant ecology
• Weed
• Wild plant
• Plant ecology
• Vegetation survey
• Population ecology
• Habitats and biotopes
• Species distribution
• Annual weeds
• Perennial weeds
• Agroecology
• Biodiversity conservation
• Arable land
• Agrobiodiversity
• Ecology
• Citizen science