Transcript Chapter3

Important human dimensions of the invasive alien species
problem include historical, economic, cultural, linguistic,
health, psychological, sociological, management, legal,
philosophical, ethical and political dimensions (McNeely,
1996).
IUCN
THE WORLD CONSERVATION UNION
www.cia.gov/.../factbook/ flags/ch-flag.html
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
Not all alien species are harmful. Many are
essential to human survival and well-being:
•
In many areas, the great majority of crop
plants and animal species used for food
are introduced.
http://www.envirotest.com/feed/type_feed.htm
•
Some productive forest industries and
fisheries are based on introduced
species.
•
In the USA, 95% of food production
depends on non-indigenous species of
plants and animals.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST cont.
• Introductions for biological control of invasive
pests have often resulted in huge savings in
pesticide use and crop loss.
•
However, in many parts of the world,
alien species have been recognised as
harmful and have initiated the launch of
programmes to curb present and future
impacts.
• This has created a wide conflict of interest
around whether alien species are problematic
or not.
http://pmep.cce.cornell.edu/factsslides-self/slideset/grwater50.html
THE PROBLEM IS ESSENTIALLY A HUMAN ONE
(McNeely, 1996)
• People are largely responsible for moving organisms.
• Biological invasions are driven by human activities and
mediated by culturally shaped values and ethics.
• IAS more often seem to invade habitats altered by humans.
Cities are the focal points of the global economy and the
entry points for many invasives.
• Many invasive species are most prolific in urban and urbanfringe environments, where long histories of human
disturbance have created abundant bare ground and many
opportunities for invasion.
http://www.comp.glam.ac.uk/ukais2000/UKAISVenue.htm
ALIEN BIRDS
• Alien birds found in urban areas in South Africa include the
Indian myna, European starling, and feral pigeon. These birds
were introduced into SA about a century ago (Dean, 2000).
http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Feral%20Pigeon
http://www.v-liz.co.uk/india/birds/c_mynah.htm
THE PROBLEM IS ESSENTIALLY A HUMAN ONE cont.
• Many alien species were/are intentionally introduced for
economic reasons (Chapter 4).
Future generations are left with the problem.
• The dimensions of and the responses to the problem of IAS are
defined by people.
Different people and groups are impacted in different ways
by introduced species.
• One species may be beneficial to some, while a burden to
others.
The value of an alien species to any particular interest
group might change over time.
• Management is also decided by people, often leading to difficult
circumstances.
PERCEPTIONS
• If the invasive species are not harming or excluding natives, do
they constitute a real problem?
• Animal rights groups are often against eradication or control,
such as with the grey squirrel in Europe.
Originally from US, it is damaging European forests and
reducing the range of the indigenous red squirrel.
• The difficulty in control stems from the opposition of animal
rights groups.
Grey squirrel
Red squirrel
http://www.americanphoto.co.jp
/pages/eiga/RI/Previews/
FASHIONS AND SPORT
• Fashions
Possums were introduced into New Zealand from Australia
for the fur trade.
Ornamental plant species have been preferred to
indigenous species merely because of a fashion trend.
• Sport – various animals have been introduced for fishing and
hunting.
Trout fishermen value the species, despite knowledge of
their negative impact on indigenous species.
http://www.doc.govt.nz/Conservation/002
~Animal-Pests/021~Kiore-(PacificRat).asp
• In Australia, Aborigines are against the
government’s programme to control alien mammals,
because hunting of these species is an important
cultural aspect.
• At another angle, IAS can result in the loss of
traditional knowledge, innovations and practices
(McNeely, 1996) when they encroach and
endanger indigenous species.
http://www.knowbritain.com/general/commonwealth.html
• In New Zealand Maori leaders were initially opposed
to the eradication of Pacific Rats, which were labeled
as “treasure” from their ancestors.
http://www.edwindoran.co.uk/t
our%20itineraries.htm
ABORIGINES AND MAORIS
PUBLIC AWARENESS
• Public awareness in the USA is amounts to ± $ 314 billion per
year.
• USA has recognised the importance of the human dimension in
eradication and control programmes.
• Well-informed and educated members of the public can make
better decisions with respect to introductions and control.
http://www.environment.ky.gov/education/
ANIMAL RIGHTS GROUPS – the positive side!
• “Kill the Grey Squirrels” has changed to
“Save the Red Squirrels”.
• The control of Brush-tailed Possums is
now known as “Operation ForestSave”.
• The endangered Cassowary is used
as a front for controlling feral pigs
and fully involves community groups.
http://www.cap.nsw.edu.au/bb_site_intro/stage1_Modules/wetdry_stage1/wet_dry.htm
The influence of animal rights groups has
changed the focus of eradication
programmes, with improved success rates
and public enthusiasm.
FERAL ANIMAL CONTROVERSY (Mack et al, 2000)
• Controversies over feral horse management in the USA and New
Zealand illustrate the conflicts within society regarding
appreciated feral animals.
• Feral horses pose threats to native species and ecosystems.
However, some groups argue that horses "belong" in the West,
serving as replacements for indigenous horses that became
extinct about 10,000 years ago.
http://www.world
zone.net/recreati
on/virtuallyhorses
/kaimanawahors
es.html
• In New Zealand, however, there were no native land mammals
before humans arrived. European settlers introduced horses
into New Zealand less than 200 years ago.
CATS IN BRITAIN
• In Britain, feral cats are the most serious threat to the
persistence of many small vertebrates. One study shows that
domestic cats alone kill 20 million birds annually.
MORE EXAMPLES
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Freshwater fish http://www.ru.ac.za/affiliates/am/m&g.html
Trumpeter swans http://www.acsu.buffalo.edu/~insrisg/nature/swans.html
Feral animals http://www.rarehawaii.org/pigpage/animalcontrol.htm
Supersalmon http://www.ecoglobe.org/nz/news1999/d029news.htm
Invasive seaweeds http://www.frontlineonnet.com/fl2019/stories/20030926003403600.htm
•
Look up feral horses in New Zealand
Chapter 1 Definitions
Chapter 2 History, globalisation and GMOs
Chapter 3 The human dimension
Next
Chapter 4 Pathways of introduction
Chapter 5 Characteristics of invasive alien species
Chapter 6 The ecology of biological invasions
Chapter 7 Impacts of invasive alien species
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
I hope that you found chapter 3 informative and that
you will enjoy chapter four!