Examining the attitudes and actions taken of the general public towards invasive species depending on how they are perceived due to their outward appearance

Introduction

How would you rank a rat compared to a cat? If the government told you to keep one and get rid of the other, which would you choose? Now what if you were told both would cause ecological destruction would you be able to help get rid of both? These are the questions environmentalists wonder when seeking public help getting rid of invasive species. Studies show that as humans we place a higher value on certain animals and subsequently treat them much differently from their lesser perceived peers (Possidónio et al., 2019). This paper will be examining if as humans we perceive that some animals are of higher value depending on their cuteness and furthermore if humans would be more open to ending an invasive species life based on this perception of them.

What influences us?

Within the conservationist’s realm of dealing with public perception and participation, understanding how humans interact with their environment is imperative. This research also concluded that humans are more likely to support conservation efforts that are aimed at helping birds and mammals than for reptiles and invertebrates (Possidónio et al., 2019). Empathy is part of a triad of feelings that include attachment and anthropomorphism, which all correlate in how we consider, treat and care for animals (Prato-Previde et al., 2022).

Empathy

Empathy is regarded as a central part of a human's emotional experience, as it helps to build social interactions, promotes positive social behaviors, and caring for others (Prato-Previde et al., 2022). Empathy helps dictate which animals we deem are important to protect and should regulate.

Attachment

Attachment is seen as a particular emotional bond that a person or animal establishes in their lifetime with another, which is often very significant to the specific individual. A human-animal attachment is comparable to an interpersonal human relationship, in which a pet’s capacity to provide comfort and security (Prato-Previde et al.,2022).

Anthropomorphism

Anthropomorphism is the human tendency to see human characteristics or mentality in nonhuman entities such as objects or animals. This can be seen when humans create a sense of human connection with a pet, such as dogs and cats, thus minimizing the feeling of loneliness or a lack of social connection (Prato-Previde et al., 2022).

Public Opposition

A prime example of public opposition that halted efforts to stop the destruction caused by invasive species can be seen in South Africa, when the mallard duck invaded Cape Town (Novoa et al., 2017). What was once introduced as a duck for sport hunting, has now interfered with local waterfowl populations as they outcompete indigenous ducks for nesting, roosting, and feeding sites as well as cross breeding between different ducks.

Human Intervention

Lionfish primarily eat fish, they can reduce a coral reef’s recruitment of native fish by almost 80% just by being there, and with no natural predators it is hard to remove them. With human intervention Lionfish population can be diminished, in ways such as the Lionfish food market as well as aquarium trade. There is a yearly Lionfish hunt in Florida that awards the team who kills the most Lionfish, which encourages local control and community engagement.

The Common Iguana

The common Iguana was introduced to Florida as they were once pets that were released or escaped and have established themselves in South Florida (Kern, 2004). They cause damage by eating valuable landscape foliage and many other native flowers, but also burrowing under seawalls and foundations which causes even more property damage (Kern, 2004). Some common methods of eradicating Iguanas in Florida include euthanasia, harassment, and shooting depending on the part of Florida (Kern, 2004).

Cuban Treefrog

Another well known invasive species in Florida is the Cuban treefrog which was most likely a stowaway in shipping crates from the Caribbean. They cause havoc to the native tree frogs as they are a known predator to them and their tadpoles are more superior causing a decline in native populations (Johnson, 2007). Some common ways to remove the Cuban treefrog include to humanely euthanize them once captured or to eliminate their breeding sites and eggs (Johnson, 2007)

Theoretical Framework

For my framework I choose the Conceptual Framework of the Perception of Alien Invasive Species. I choose this framework because it directly ties in with my intended outcome of seeing how public perception influences the management of invasive species as well as how that perception is created through emotional, socio-cultural, and individual viewpoints. This framework serves as a way to understand the connecting pieces between how each individual may feel and what influences that, as well as what public perception can do to influence change.

Citations

Catarina Possidónio, João Graça, Jared Piazza, & Marília Prada. (2019). Animal Images Database: Validation of 120 images for human-animal studies. Animals, 9(8), 475. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani9080475

Gaertner, M., Larson, B. M. H., Irlich, U. M., Holmes, P. M., Stafford, L., van Wilgen, B. W., & Richardson, D. M. (2016). Managing invasive species in cities: A framework from Cape Town, South Africa. Landscape and Urban Planning, 151, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2016.03.010

Gómez-Leal, R., Costa, A., Megías-Robles, A., Fernández-Berrocal, P., & Faria, L. (2021). Relationship between emotional intelligence and empathy towards humans and animals. PeerJ, 9. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.11274

Johnson, S. A. (2007). Cuban treefrog (Osteopilus Septentrionalis) in Florida. EDIS, 2007(15). https://doi.org/10.32473/edis-uw259-2007

Kern, W. H. (2004). Dealing with iguanas in the South Florida Landscape. EDIS,2004(15). https://doi.org/10.32473/edis-in528-2004

Klebl, C., Luo, Y., Tan, N. P.-J., Ping Ern, J. T., & Bastian, B. (2021). Beauty of the Beast: Beauty as an important dimension in the moral standing of animals. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 75. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2021.101624

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [NOAA]. (2022, July 29). Impacts of invasive lionfish. NOAA. Retrieved March 3, 2023, from https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/southeast/ecosystems/impacts-invasive-lionfish#:~:text=Lionfish%20have%20become%20the%20poster,reefs%20and%20other%20marine%20ecosystems

Novoa, A., Dehnen-Schmutz, K., Fried, J. et al. Does public awareness increase support for invasive species management? Promising evidence across taxa and landscape types. Biol Invasions 19, 3691–3705 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-017-1592-0

Prato-Previde, E., Basso Ricci, E., & Colombo, E. S. (2022). The Complexity of the Human–Animal Bond: Empathy, Attachment and Anthropomorphism in Human–Animal Relationships and Animal Hoarding. Animals (2076-2615), 12(20), N.PAG. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12202835

Shackleton, R. T., Richardson, D. M., Shackleton, C. M., Bennett, B., Crowley, S. L., Dehnen-Schmutz, K., Estévez, R. A., Fischer, A., Kueffer, C., Kull, C. A., Marchante, E., Novoa, A., Potgieter, L. J., Vaas, J., Vaz, A. S., & Larson, B. M. H. (2019). Explaining people’s perceptions of invasive alien species: A conceptual framework. Journal of Environmental Management, 229, 10–26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.04.045