Abstract
Accidental introduction and/or spread of invasive non-native species (INNS) can result from a range of activities including agriculture, transport, trade and recreation. Researchers represent an important group of stakeholders who undertake activities in the field that could potentially facilitate the spread of INNS. Biosecurity is key to preventing the introduction and spread of INNS. Risk perceptions are a fundamental component in determining behaviour, so understanding how researchers perceive the risks associated with their activities can help us understand some of the drivers of biosecurity behaviour in the field. The aim of this study was to investigate researchers’ perceptions of risk in relation to their field activities and whether risk perceptions influenced behaviour. We gathered quantitative data on perceptions of risk and biosecurity practices using an online questionnaire. Only 35% of all respondents considered their field activities to pose some risk in terms of spreading INNS. Higher risk perception was found in those who undertook high risk activities or where INNS were known/expected to be present. However, whilst respondents with experience of INNS were more likely to report consciously employing biosecurity in the field, this did not translate into better actual biosecurity practices. Awareness of biosecurity campaigns did in fact increase perception of risk, perceived and actual biosecurity behaviour. However, there remains a disconnect between reported and actual biosecurity practices, including a lack of understanding about what constitutes good biosecurity practice. These findings should be used to improve targeted awareness raising campaigns and help create directed training on biosecurity practices.
Highlights
As the rate of invasion increases, there is a growing need to prevent ecological, economic and social impacts
The sample was split into two groups according to whether respondents identified ecology and/or conservation (n = 26 ecology, n = 14 conservation) as one of their disciplinary areas or not (n = 35), in order to test the impact of academic discipline on risk perception and biosecurity practice
This study provides the first test of key hypotheses, that knowledge and exposure determine behaviour surrounding the implementation of biosecurity measures by a neglected group of stakeholders: field researchers
Summary
As the rate of invasion increases, there is a growing need to prevent ecological, economic and social impacts. Management and prevention of the introduction and/or spread of invasive non-native species (INNS) is recognised as a global priority under the CBD and targets to achieve this have been transposed into recent EU legislation (EC Regulation 1143/2014). The EU Regulation aims to address the problems INNS can create by targeting intervention measures; prevention, early detection and rapid eradication and management. Methods to prevent the introduction and spread of INNS are increasingly being recognised as the most cost effective means of reducing the impacts of INNS and are central to the EU regulation and the Invasive Non-Native Species Strategy for Great Britain (Perrings et al 2002; Dunn and Hatcher 2015). Biosecurity measures cover all activities aimed at preventing the introduction and/or spread of INNS. Biosecurity measures to reduce the introduction and/or spread of INNS on fomites (e.g. clothing or equipment) can involve simple practices such as employing cleaning measures (Anderson et al 2015; Dunn and Hatcher 2015)
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