Title: Different conflicts, same solution: Assessing the potential of public awareness to reduce conflicts around the management of invasive species.
Journal: Biological Invasions.
Authors: Ana Novoa1,2,3*, Katharina Dehnen-Schmutz, Jana Fried and Giovanni Vimercati.
1Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, South Africa
2Invasive Species Programme, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Kirstenbosch Research Centre, Claremont, South Africa
3Institute of Botany, Department of Invasion Ecology, The Czech Academy of Sciences, CZ-252 43 Průhonice, Czech Republic
*Corresponding author. Email:
Appendix2. Questionnaires used in this study aiming to explore whether the target species, area or geographical location might influence the likelihood of an invasive species management action to raise conflicts, and to assess the potential of public awareness to reduce or avoid such conflicts.
Questionnaire 1. Opuntiastricta. South Africa
- Do you recognize this plant?
Yes/No
- It is an erect prickly pear. Are you familiar with it?
Yes/No
- Looking at the erect prickly pear on the pictures, could you please describe in up to 3 words what you think about it?
Word 1.
Word 2.
Word 3.
- Please indicate how negative or positive you feel about the erect prickly pear on the scale below.
Strongly negative / Somewhat negative / Neutral / Somewhat positive / Strongly positive
-2 / -1 / 0 / 1 / 2
- Please, have a look at this picture of a natural area. Now, imagine you encounter a control team removing erect prickly pears in this area. How would you feel about it?
Strongly against it / Somewhat against it / Neutral / Somewhat in favour / Strongly in favour
-2 / -1 / 0 / 1 / 2
- Please, have a look at this other picture of an urban area. Now, imagine you encounter a control team removing erect prickly pears in this other area. How would you feel about it?
Strongly against it / Somewhat against it / Neutral / Somewhat in favour / Strongly in favour
-2 / -1 / 0 / 1 / 2
- Please, read the text.
The erect prickly pear is native to USA, Mexico and CUBA, but it is not native to South Africa. However, it was introduced as an ornamental plant. It soon became invasive and now it is present across much of the north and eastern regions of South Africa.
The erect prickly pears are highly adaptable to urban, natural and protected areas, where they can reach high densities. The erect prickly pears have multiple ecological and economic impacts. They reduce food production, cause loss of grazing potential, transform habitats and change the biodiversity in the areas they invade.
The invasion also raises concerns because it might restrict human access to land. The erect prickly pears might also cause injures to people, that get hurt with its spines.
Now, knowing more about the erect prickly pear, please, indicate how negative or positive you feel now about the erect prickly pear in GraaffReinet.
Strongly negative / Somewhat negative / Neutral / Somewhat positive / Strongly positive-2 / -1 / 0 / 1 / 2
- Imagine again you encounter a control team removing erect prickly pears in a natural area. How would you now feel about it?
Strongly against it / Somewhat against it / Neutral / Somewhat in favour / Strongly in favour
-2 / -1 / 0 / 1 / 2
- Imagine again you encounter a control team removing erect prickly pears in an urban area. How would you now feel about it?
Strongly against it / Somewhat against it / Neutral / Somewhat in favour / Strongly in favour
-2 / -1 / 0 / 1 / 2
- Do you have any further comments?
Questionnaire 2. Amietophrynusgutturalis. South Africa
- Do you recognize this animal?
Yes/No
- It is a guttural toad. Are you familiar with it?
Yes/No
- Looking at the guttural toad on the pictures, could you please describe in up to 3 words what you think about it?
Word 1.
Word 2.
Word 3.
- Please indicate how negative or positive you feel about the guttural toad on the scale below.
Strongly negative / Somewhat negative / Neutral / Somewhat positive / Strongly positive
-2 / -1 / 0 / 1 / 2
- Please, have a look at this picture of a natural area. Now, imagine you encounter a control team capturing to kill guttural toads in this area. How would you feel about it?
Strongly against it / Somewhat against it / Neutral / Somewhat in favour / Strongly in favour
-2 / -1 / 0 / 1 / 2
- Please, have a look at this other picture of an urban area. Now, imagine you encounter a control team capturing to kill guttural toads in this other area. How would you feel about it?
Strongly against it / Somewhat against it / Neutral / Somewhat in favour / Strongly in favour
-2 / -1 / 0 / 1 / 2
- Please, read the text.
The guttural toad is native to the Eastern and Northern parts of South Africa, but it is not native here, in the Western Cape. However, some years ago, it was accidentally introduced with a shipment of aquatic plants to Costantia. It was recorded as invasive in 2006 and has spread to neighbouring suburbs of Cape Town (e.g. Bishopcourt)
The toads are highly adaptable and use private garden ponds to breed, where they can often reach high densities. The guttural toads might an impact on local residents because the males make a very loud annoying call at night.
The invasion also raises concerns because it occurs within the native range of the endangered Western Leopard Toad. The two species might compete for habitat, resources and breeding grounds. The guttural toad might also threaten other indigenous frogs, especially if the species was allowed to invade Table Mountain National Park.
Now, knowing more about the guttural toad, please, indicate how negative or positive you feel now about the guttural toad in Cape Town.
Strongly negative / Somewhat negative / Neutral / Somewhat positive / Strongly positive-2 / -1 / 0 / 1 / 2
- Imagine again you encounter a control team capturing to kill guttural toads in a natural area. How would you now feel about it?
Strongly against it / Somewhat against it / Neutral / Somewhat in favour / Strongly in favour
-2 / -1 / 0 / 1 / 2
- Imagine again you encounter a control team capturing to kill guttural toads in an urban area. How would you now feel about it?
Strongly against it / Somewhat against it / Neutral / Somewhat in favour / Strongly in favour
-2 / -1 / 0 / 1 / 2
- Do you have any further comments?
Questionnaire 3. Impatiens glandulifera. UK
- Do you recognize this plant?
Yes/No
- It is Himalayan Balsam. Are you familiar with it?
Yes/No
- Looking at the Himalayan Balsam in the pictures, could you please describe in up to 3 words what you think about it?
Word 1.
Word 2.
Word 3.
- Please indicate how negative or positive you feel about Himalayan Balsam on the scale below.
Strongly negative / Somewhat negative / Neutral / Somewhat positive / Strongly positive
-2 / -1 / 0 / 1 / 2
- Please, have a look at this picture of a natural area. Now, imagine you encounter a control team removing Himalayan Balsam in this area. How would you feel about it?
Strongly against it / Somewhat against it / Neutral / Somewhat in favour / Strongly in favour
-2 / -1 / 0 / 1 / 2
- Please, have a look at this other picture of an urban area. Now, imagine you encounter a control team removing Himalayan Balsam in this other area. How would you feel about it?
Strongly against it / Somewhat against it / Neutral / Somewhat in favour / Strongly in favour
-2 / -1 / 0 / 1 / 2
- Please, read the text.
The Himalayan Balsam is native to Asia, but it is not native to Britain. However, it was introduced as an ornamental plant in the 19th century. It soon became invasive and now it is present across much of Britain.
Himalayan Balsam frequently occurs along banks of lowland waterways forming continuous stands, damp woodlands and waste grounds. The plants quickly build dense stands, displacing native species. They also compete with native species for pollinators. In the autumn, the plants die back, leaving the river banks bare of vegetation and vulnerable to erosion, leading to knock on effects such as river bank instability and therefore increased flood risk.
Now, knowing more about Himalayan Balsam, please, indicate how negative or positive you feel now about the erect prickly pear in Britain.
Strongly negative / Somewhat negative / Neutral / Somewhat positive / Strongly positive-2 / -1 / 0 / 1 / 2
- Imagine again you encounter a control team removing Himalayan Balsam in a natural area. How would you now feel about it?
Strongly against it / Somewhat against it / Neutral / Somewhat in favour / Strongly in favour
-2 / -1 / 0 / 1 / 2
- Imagine again you encounter a control team removing Himalayan Balsam in an urban area. How would you now feel about it?
Strongly against it / Somewhat against it / Neutral / Somewhat in favour / Strongly in favour
-2 / -1 / 0 / 1 / 2
- Do you have any further comments?
Questionnaire 4. Sciuruscarolinensis. UK
- Do you recognize this animal?
Yes/No
- It is a grey squirrel. Are you familiar with it?
Yes/No
- Looking at the grey squirrel on the pictures, could you please describe in up to 3 words what you think about it?
Word 1.
Word 2.
Word 3.
- Please indicate how negative or positive you feel about the grey squirrel on the scale below.
Strongly negative / Somewhat negative / Neutral / Somewhat positive / Strongly positive
-2 / -1 / 0 / 1 / 2
- Please, have a look at this picture of a natural area. Now, imagine you encounter a control team capturing to kill grey squirrels in this area. How would you feel about it?
Strongly against it / Somewhat against it / Neutral / Somewhat in favour / Strongly in favour
-2 / -1 / 0 / 1 / 2
- Please, have a look at this other picture of an urban area. Now, imagine you encounter a control team capturing to kill grey squirrels in this other area. How would you feel about it?
Strongly against it / Somewhat against it / Neutral / Somewhat in favour / Strongly in favour
-2 / -1 / 0 / 1 / 2
- Please, read the text.
The Grey Squirrel is native to North America, but it is not native here in Britain. It was introduced to Britain as a pet in the 19th century and released into the wild. It is now widespread and common in England and Wales. The Grey Squirrel lives in woodlands, garden and parks.
The Grey Squirrel invasion has resulted in the local extinction of the native Red Squirrel in almost all areas where the Grey Squirrel occurs. The two species compete for habitat, resources and breeding grounds. In addition, the Grey Squirrel also transmits “squirrel pox” which is fatal for the Red Squirrel. It has further impacts in woodlands and gardens through bark stripping of trees, feeding on buds and nest predation.
Now, knowing more about the grey squirrel, please, indicate how negative or positive you feel now about the grey squirrel in Britain.
Strongly negative / Somewhat negative / Neutral / Somewhat positive / Strongly positive-2 / -1 / 0 / 1 / 2
- Imagine again you encounter a control team capturing to kill grey squirrels in a natural area. How would you now feel about it?
Strongly against it / Somewhat against it / Neutral / Somewhat in favour / Strongly in favour
-2 / -1 / 0 / 1 / 2
- Imagine again you encounter a control team capturing to kill grey squirrels in an urban area. How would you now feel about it?
Strongly against it / Somewhat against it / Neutral / Somewhat in favour / Strongly in favour
-2 / -1 / 0 / 1 / 2
- Do you have any further comments?