A four-component classification of uncertainties in biological invasions: implications for management

Publikation: Beiträge in ZeitschriftenZeitschriftenaufsätzeForschungbegutachtet

Authors

  • G. Latombe
  • S. Canavan
  • Heidi Hirsch
  • C. Hui
  • Sabrina Kumschick
  • M. M. Niskani
  • L. J. Potgieter
  • T. B. Robinson
  • Wolf Christian Saul
  • Sophia Turner
  • John R. U. Wilson
  • Florencia A. Yannelli
  • David M. Richardson
Although uncertainty is an integral part of any science, it raises doubts in public perception about scientific evidence, is exploited by denialists, and therefore potentially hinders the implementation of management actions. As a relatively young field of study, invasion science contains many uncertainties. This may explain why, despite international policies aimed at mitigating biological invasions, the implementation of national- and regional-scale measures to prevent or control alien species has done little to slow the increase in extent of invasions and the magnitude of impacts. Uncertainty is therefore a critical aspect of invasion science that should be addressed to enable the field to progress further. To improve how uncertainties in invasion science are captured and characterized, we propose a framework, which is also applicable to other applied research fields such as climate and conservation science, divided into four components:
the need (1) to clearly circumscribe the phenomenon, (2) to measure and provide evidence for the phenomenon (i.e., confirmation), (3) to understand the mechanisms that cause the phenomenon, and (4) to understand the mechanisms through which the phenomenon results in consequences. We link these issues to three major types of uncertainty: linguistic, psychological, and epistemic. The application of this framework shows that the four components tend to be characterized by different types of uncertainty in invasion science.We explain how these uncertainties can be detrimental to the implementation of management measures and propose ways to reduce them. Since biological invasions are increasingly tightly embedded in complex socio-ecological systems, many problems associated with these uncertainties have convoluted solutions. They demand the consensus of many stakeholders to define and frame the dimensions of the phenomenon, and to decide on appropriate actions. While many of the uncertainties cannot be eliminated completely, we believe that using this framework to explicitly identify and communicate them will help to improve collaboration between researchers and managers, increase scientific, political, and public support for invasion research, and provide a stronger foundation for sustainable management strategies.
OriginalspracheEnglisch
Aufsatznummere02669
ZeitschriftEcosphere
Jahrgang10
Ausgabenummer4
Seiten (von - bis)1-25
Anzahl der Seiten25
ISSN2150-8925
DOIs
PublikationsstatusErschienen - 01.04.2019
Extern publiziertJa

Bibliographische Notiz

Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 The Authors.

    Fachgebiete

  • Ökosystemforschung - impact, invasive alien species, management, non-native species, uncertainty

DOI

Zuletzt angesehen

Publikationen

  1. Predictors of adherence to public health behaviors for fighting COVID-19 derived from longitudinal data
  2. Synthesis and future research directions linking tree diversity to growth, survival, and damage in a global network of tree diversity experiments
  3. Experimental Tests for an Innovative Catamaran Prototype
  4. Design of a Real Time Path of Motion Control for Manufacturing Applications
  5. Modeling of 3D fluid-structure-interaction during in-situ hybridization of double-curved fiber-metal-laminates
  6. Sozialberichterstattung
  7. Quantifying interregional flows of multiple ecosystem services – A case study for Germany
  8. How are strategy maps linked to strategic and organizational change?
  9. A panel cointegrating rank test with structural breaks and cross-sectional dependence
  10. Heteroaggregation of titanium dioxide nanoparticles with model natural colloids under environmentally relevant conditions
  11. Identifying core habitat before it's too late
  12. Mapping a sustainable future
  13. Time use research and time use data - actual topics and new frontiers
  14. Media use in Germany around the attacks in the United States
  15. Co-EM Support Vector learning
  16. Structural forces driving global integration
  17. The multi-criteria effectiveness evaluation of the robotic group based on 3D real-time vision system
  18. Recognising the role of local and Indigenous communities in managing natural resources for the greater public benefit
  19. Shrub management is the principal driver of differing population sizes between native and invasive populations of Rosa rubiginosa L
  20. Automatic or controlled: How does disbelief in free will influence cognitive functioning?
  21. Hidden in full view
  22. Sampling
  23. The promise and challenges of computer mouse trajectories in DMHIs – A feasibility study on pre-treatment dropout predictions
  24. Performativity, performance studies and digital cultures
  25. Leverage points for addressing marine and coastal pollution
  26. Rethinking Gamification
  27. Unfreiwillige Mitarbeit
  28. The informed society - Final report of SAFECOAST action 2
  29. Quantifying ecosystem services of rewetted peatlands − the MoorFutures methodologies
  30. Identification of the effective water availability from streamflows in the Zerafshan river basin, Central Asia
  31. Habitat fragmentation increases specialization of multi-trophic interactions by high species turnover
  32. Hydration and Dehydration of CaO/ Ca(OH)2
  33. Im Netz der Dinge
  34. Proceedings SMC 2016
  35. Global networks & local partnerships