Citizen Science as a Tool in the Biomonitoring of Freshwater Ecosystems Using Aquatic Insects

Anthropogenic pressures and climate change have increasingly affected biodiversity and ecosystem services, particularly in freshwater ecosystems, which are among the most sensitive and vulnerable environments. Citizen science has emerged as a promising approach to expand ecological knowledge and strengthen biomonitoring efforts, mitigating the limitations of conventional research in scale, cost, and speed. This study presents a global bibliometric analysis of citizen science applied to freshwater biomonitoring using aquatic insects. A total of 153 articles indexed in Scopus and Web of Science, published between 2002 and 2025, were analyzed. Results reveal a marked increase in publications since 2010, concentrated mainly in the Global North, especially the United States (37.51%) and Germany (14.42%). The most frequent taxa were Odonata (25.58%) and Diptera (25.19%), with studies focusing primarily on species (70.59%) level, and adult stage (69%). Participants were mainly from the general public (70%) and naturalists (12%), predominantly under contributory models (98%). Reported challenges involved taxonomic limitations (28%) and citizen science engagement (28%). Despite these constraints, the findings highlight the growing relevance of citizen science as a complementary tool for aquatic biomonitoring, emphasizing the need for inclusive approaches, taxonomic training, and participatory strategies in biodiversity conservation.