Understanding the Threats Posed by Non-Native Species: Public vs. Conservation Managers

Authors: Gozlan, R.E., Burnard, D., Andreou, D. and Britton, J.R.

Journal: PLoS ONE

Volume: 8

Issue: 1

eISSN: 1932-6203

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0053200

Abstract:

Public perception is a key factor influencing current conservation policy. Therefore, it is important to determine the influence of the public, end-users and scientists on the prioritisation of conservation issues and the direct implications for policy makers. Here, we assessed public attitudes and the perception of conservation managers to five non-native species in the UK, with these supplemented by those of an ecosystem user, freshwater anglers. We found that threat perception was not influenced by the volume of scientific research or by the actual threats posed by the specific non-native species. Media interest also reflected public perception and vice versa. Anglers were most concerned with perceived threats to their recreational activities but their concerns did not correspond to the greatest demonstrated ecological threat. The perception of conservation managers was an amalgamation of public and angler opinions but was mismatched to quantified ecological risks of the species. As this suggests that invasive species management in the UK is vulnerable to a knowledge gap, researchers must consider the intrinsic characteristics of their study species to determine whether raising public perception will be effective. The case study of the topmouth gudgeon Pseudorasbora parva reveals that media pressure and political debate has greater capacity to ignite policy changes and impact studies on non-native species than scientific evidence alone. © 2013 Gozlan et al.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/20877/

Source: Scopus

Understanding the threats posed by non-native species: public vs. conservation managers.

Authors: Gozlan, R.E., Burnard, D., Andreou, D. and Britton, J.R.

Journal: PLoS One

Volume: 8

Issue: 1

Pages: e53200

eISSN: 1932-6203

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0053200

Abstract:

Public perception is a key factor influencing current conservation policy. Therefore, it is important to determine the influence of the public, end-users and scientists on the prioritisation of conservation issues and the direct implications for policy makers. Here, we assessed public attitudes and the perception of conservation managers to five non-native species in the UK, with these supplemented by those of an ecosystem user, freshwater anglers. We found that threat perception was not influenced by the volume of scientific research or by the actual threats posed by the specific non-native species. Media interest also reflected public perception and vice versa. Anglers were most concerned with perceived threats to their recreational activities but their concerns did not correspond to the greatest demonstrated ecological threat. The perception of conservation managers was an amalgamation of public and angler opinions but was mismatched to quantified ecological risks of the species. As this suggests that invasive species management in the UK is vulnerable to a knowledge gap, researchers must consider the intrinsic characteristics of their study species to determine whether raising public perception will be effective. The case study of the topmouth gudgeon Pseudorasbora parva reveals that media pressure and political debate has greater capacity to ignite policy changes and impact studies on non-native species than scientific evidence alone.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/20877/

Source: PubMed

Preferred by: Robert Britton and Demetra Andreou

Understanding the Threats Posed by Non-Native Species: Public vs. Conservation Managers

Authors: Gozlan, R.E., Burnard, D., Andreou, D. and Britton, J.R.

Journal: PLOS ONE

Volume: 8

Issue: 1

ISSN: 1932-6203

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0053200

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/20877/

Source: Web of Science (Lite)

Understanding the threats posed by non-native species: public vs. conservation managers.

Authors: Gozlan, R.E., Burnard, D., Andreou, D. and Britton, J.R.

Journal: PloS one

Volume: 8

Issue: 1

Pages: e53200

eISSN: 1932-6203

ISSN: 1932-6203

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0053200

Abstract:

Public perception is a key factor influencing current conservation policy. Therefore, it is important to determine the influence of the public, end-users and scientists on the prioritisation of conservation issues and the direct implications for policy makers. Here, we assessed public attitudes and the perception of conservation managers to five non-native species in the UK, with these supplemented by those of an ecosystem user, freshwater anglers. We found that threat perception was not influenced by the volume of scientific research or by the actual threats posed by the specific non-native species. Media interest also reflected public perception and vice versa. Anglers were most concerned with perceived threats to their recreational activities but their concerns did not correspond to the greatest demonstrated ecological threat. The perception of conservation managers was an amalgamation of public and angler opinions but was mismatched to quantified ecological risks of the species. As this suggests that invasive species management in the UK is vulnerable to a knowledge gap, researchers must consider the intrinsic characteristics of their study species to determine whether raising public perception will be effective. The case study of the topmouth gudgeon Pseudorasbora parva reveals that media pressure and political debate has greater capacity to ignite policy changes and impact studies on non-native species than scientific evidence alone.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/20877/

Source: Europe PubMed Central

Understanding the threats posed by non-native species: public vs. conservation managers.

Authors: Gozlan, R.E., Burnard, D., Andreou, D. and Britton, J.R.

Journal: PLoS One

Volume: 8

Issue: 1

Pages: e53200

ISSN: 1932-6203

Abstract:

Public perception is a key factor influencing current conservation policy. Therefore, it is important to determine the influence of the public, end-users and scientists on the prioritisation of conservation issues and the direct implications for policy makers. Here, we assessed public attitudes and the perception of conservation managers to five non-native species in the UK, with these supplemented by those of an ecosystem user, freshwater anglers. We found that threat perception was not influenced by the volume of scientific research or by the actual threats posed by the specific non-native species. Media interest also reflected public perception and vice versa. Anglers were most concerned with perceived threats to their recreational activities but their concerns did not correspond to the greatest demonstrated ecological threat. The perception of conservation managers was an amalgamation of public and angler opinions but was mismatched to quantified ecological risks of the species. As this suggests that invasive species management in the UK is vulnerable to a knowledge gap, researchers must consider the intrinsic characteristics of their study species to determine whether raising public perception will be effective. The case study of the topmouth gudgeon Pseudorasbora parva reveals that media pressure and political debate has greater capacity to ignite policy changes and impact studies on non-native species than scientific evidence alone.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/20877/

Source: BURO EPrints