Abstract
While the ecological aspects of aquatic introductions have been thoroughly researched, lesser attention has been given to the social, historical, cultural, and ideological contexts of such intended introductions. The introduction of Gambusia affinis to Palestine was made quickly by one person, who documented the process—and hence may serve as an excellent case study: Israel Kligler's scientific reports and personal correspondence from the late 1920s and early 1930s provide us with an opportunity to witness the thoughts and ideas behind that introduction process. We find that the swift and quick introduction was facilitated by a combination of three factors: Zionist institutions' desire to test new scientific tools and methods, the colonial desire to control the environment and actively “ameliorate” it, and Kligler's close working ties with US-American institutions. We argue that histories of introductions should be regarded and analyzed by examining such technical-political conjunctures.
Highlights
A tiny fish, feeding on the larvae of an insect considered a pest, was brought from the new world to the old one by scientists dedicated to improving public health, in order to help fight a debilitating disease
In the Eastern Mediterranean, a recent survey found that more than 20% of all threatened and near threatened freshwater fish species in that region are made vulnerable by invasive alien species; again, Gambusia—be it G. affinis or its close relative G. holbrooki, whose impact on native fauna seems to be quite similar—is one of the first culprits named in this context (Smith et al, 2014)
The effects of Gambusia’s introduction are still felt in Israel today, as the fish threatens to destroy—and in several cases destroys—habitats of indigenous species, including the endangered fire salamander, for instance (Segev et al, 2009). If this is not enough, the impact of fish introductions on the spread of malaria may well have been overestimated at the beginning of the twentieth century, and for a long time thereafter
Summary
Edited by: Gertrud Haidvogl, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Austria. While the ecological aspects of aquatic introductions have been thoroughly researched, lesser attention has been given to the social, historical, cultural, and ideological contexts of such intended introductions. The introduction of Gambusia affinis to Palestine was made quickly by one person, who documented the process—and may serve as an excellent case study: Israel Kligler’s scientific reports and personal correspondence from the late 1920s and early 1930s provide us with an opportunity to witness the thoughts and ideas behind that introduction process. We find that the swift and quick introduction was facilitated by a combination of three factors: Zionist institutions’ desire to test new scientific tools and methods, the colonial desire to control the environment and actively “ameliorate” it, and Kligler’s close working ties with US-American institutions.
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