Public perceptions of non-native plant species on a Chilean sub-Antarctic island

• Main Authors: Crête, Gaëlle, Herrmann, Thora Martina, Fortin, Cloé, Schüttler, Elke
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: Taylor & Francis 2020
• Subjects: Evolutionary Biology; FOS Biological sciences; Sociology; FOS Sociology; 59999 Environmental Sciences not elsewhere classified; FOS Earth and related environmental sciences; Ecology; 69999 Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified; Plant Biology; Antarctic; The Antarctic; Antarc*
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.11530428.v1; https://tandf.figshare.com/articles/Public_perceptions_of_non-native_plant_species_on_a_Chilean_sub-Antarctic_island/11530428/1

Humans are the main drivers of the introduction, establishment and spread of non-native species worldwide but they have traditionally been excluded from management. Nowadays, the social component of non-native species is increasingly considered. In this paper, we investigated understanding, perceptions and attitudes towards management of non-native herbaceous plant species on Navarino, a remote Chilean sub-Antarctic island. Overall, our study showed a general understanding of the non-native species concept among the interviewees but revealed a lack of consciousness regarding non-native plants species in the local context. Interestingly, our study also revealed many positive values associated with non-native plants species on Navarino, particularly the esthetic value. Whilst some non-native plants were strictly associated with positive values, such as common daisy ( Bellis perennis ) and white clover ( Trifolium repens ), most species were associated with conflicting values. As a key result, our study lastly showed that most interviewees were indifferent about the management of the non-native herbaceous plant species. We, therefore, suggest (i) increasing the awareness of stakeholders with respect to non-native plants, (ii) incorporating stakeholder’s values into future management decisions and (iii) considering the strategic location of Navarino Island as a potential stepping stone for the dispersion of non-native plants species towards the Antarctic.