The Rise of Invasive Species Denialism.

Trends Ecol Evol. 2016 Nov 22. pii: S0169-5347(16)30193-8. doi: 10.1016/j.tree.2016.10.012. [Epub ahead of print]

Russell JC¹, Blackburn TM².

Author information

• ¹School of Biological Sciences and Department of Statistics, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: j.russell@auckland.ac.nz.
• ²Centre for Biodiversity and Environment Research, Department of Genetics, Evolution, and Environment, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK; Institute of Zoology, ZSL, Regent's Park, London NW1 4RY, UK.

Abstract

Scientific consensus on the negative impacts of invasive alien species (IAS) is increasingly being challenged. Whereas informed scepticism of impacts is important, science denialism is counterproductive. Such denialism arises when uncertainty on impacts is confounded by differences in values. Debates on impacts must take into account both the evidence presented and motivations.

Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

KEYWORDS:

conservation; denialism; extinction; scientific communication

PMID:

27887747

DOI:

10.1016/j.tree.2016.10.012

[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]