Understanding stakeholders’ opinions and preferences for non-native pet trade management in Florida

There is growing recognition of the link between the non-native pet trade and the introduction and establishment of invasive species due to the release and escape of non-native pets. However, it is unclear whether participants in the pet trade recognize the magnitude of this invasion risk. Successful mitigation of the pet trade invasion risk requires stakeholder support for, and participation in, regulations. We conducted 29 interviews in Florida to investigate key stakeholders’ opinions about the pet trade invasion risk and the effectiveness of potential regulations to mitigate this risk. Respondents framed the effectiveness of regulations in terms of their feasibility. Respondents also identified lack of trust and the existence of an adversarial relationship among stakeholder groups as major barriers to managing the pet trade invasion risk. Compliance with regulations may be improved if policy makers and managers utilize participatory decision-making to engage stakeholders in management of this risk.http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/uhdw202020-04-25hj2018Mammal Research Institut

Investigating Public Support for Biosecurity Measures to Mitigate Pathogen Transmission Through the Herpetological Trade

The expanding global trade in herpetofauna has contributed to new infectious disease dynamics and pathways that allow for the rapid spread of pathogens geographically. Improved biosecurity is needed to mitigate adverse biodiversity, economic and human health impacts associated with pathogen transmission through the herpetological trade. However, general lack of knowledge of the pathogen transmission risks associated with the global trade in herpetofauna and public opposition to biosecurity measures are critical obstacles to successfully preventing pathogen transmission. In 2019 we administered a survey to 2,007 members of the public in the United States of America to ascertain their support for interventions to prevent the spread of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal), ranaviruses, and Salmonella through the herpetological trade. We presented survey respondents with different potential hazards associated with pathogen transmission through this trade, namely ecological, economic, and human health impacts. We used structural equation models to determine how these different hazards and respondents\u27 characteristics influenced respondents\u27 support for quarantine and veterinary observation of herpetofauna imported into the United States, mandatory tests for diseases of concern, and best practices to reduce stress and improve the care of live herpetofauna during transport to the United States. Respondents\u27 values and their perceived susceptibility and sensitivity to different hazards associated with pathogen transmission were key determinants of their support for biosecurity. Respondents with strong biospheric and altruistic values demonstrated sensitivity to ecological and human health impacts associated with pathogen transmission, whereas respondents with strong egoistic values demonstrated sensitivity to economic impacts. Respondents had limited knowledge of Bd, Bsal or ranaviruses, the size of the herpetological trade, or how this trade may contribute to pathogen transmission. Improved outreach and education on pathogen transmission through the herpetological trade is required, but it is important that messages are tailored to people with different values to elicit their support for biosecurity

Advancing Applied Research in Conservation Criminology Through the Evaluation of Corruption Prevention, Enhancing Compliance, and Reducing Recidivism

Concomitant with an increase in the global illegal wildlife trade has been a substantial increase in research within traditional conservation-based sciences and conservation and green criminology. While the integration of criminological theories and methods into the wildlife conservation context has advanced our understanding of and practical responses to illegal wildlife trade, there remain discrepancies between the number of empirical vs. conceptual studies and a disproportionate focus on a few select theories, geographical contexts, and taxonomic groups. We present three understudied or novel applications of criminology and criminal justice research within the fields of fisheries, forestry, and wildlife conservation. First, we highlight criminological research on the application of corruption prevention in combating the illegal wildlife trade. Corruption has increasingly been getting attention from the non-governmental sector; however, there has been limited research aimed at understanding institutional opportunity structures, local conceptualizations of corruption, and the corresponding prevention strategies within conservation contexts. Second, we discuss the pre-emptive application of compliance theories when designing and monitoring Community-Based Conservation (CBC) programs such as community forestry, non-timber forest products, and community patrol programs. Applying opportunity theory and social development strategies are two suggestions to improve the effectiveness of CBCs in forestry and beyond. Finally, we present a discussion on recidivism (i.e., repeat offending) and non-instrumental or novel responses, utilizing illegal fishing as a case study. We present two alternative methods to traditional forms of punishment: restorative justice and community-based approaches. Lastly, we will present a diversity of priority research agendas within each of these topics

Investigating support for management of the pet trade invasion risk

The non‐native pet trade contributes directly to species invasions, thereby threatening wildlife. Biological invasions influence environmental change, resulting in species extinctions and biodiversity loss. To mitigate the pet trade invasion risk, interventions are required to prevent trade in non‐native animals with high invasion potential, impulse or ill‐informed purchases of non‐native pets by individuals who may release these animals, and the deliberate release of non‐native animals by pet owners. Interventions are also required to prevent the establishment of non‐native animals that have been released by pet owners (e.g., euthanasia). The successful implementation of these interventions depends on the support of pet owners and the public in the form of political support for, and compliance with, interventions. In 2017–2018, using both mail and online surveys, we measured the support of 1,171 members of the public and 550 owners of non‐native pets in Florida, USA, for 7 different interventions to mitigate the pet trade invasion risk, and we investigated determinants of this support. We found that individuals' support for interventions depended on their concern related to the invasion risks associated with the pet trade, trust in government to manage the pet trade, perceptions of how effective interventions would be in mitigating the pet trade invasion risk, and demographic characteristics. Support for interventions differed across pet owners and the public. Educating pet owners about the traits and cost of care for non‐native animals and providing them with options to relinquish unwanted pets may reduce the pet trade invasion risk. Engaging the pet trade in the design of interventions to mitigate invasion risks is likely important to attain voluntary compliance with these interventions. The effectiveness of interventions also depends on enforcement by agencies. Implementing interventions that effectively reduce the pet trade invasion risk is important to protect native and endangered wildlife.Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the United States Department of Agriculture via the Renewable Resources Extension Act.https://wildlife.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/193728172021-08-01hj2020Mammal Research Institut

Investigating public support for biosecurity measures to mitigate pathogen transmission through the herpetological trade

The expanding global trade in herpetofauna has contributed to new infectious disease dynamics and pathways that allow for the rapid spread of pathogens geographically. Improved biosecurity is needed to mitigate adverse biodiversity, economic and human health impacts associated with pathogen transmission through the herpetological trade. However, general lack of knowledge of the pathogen transmission risks associated with the global trade in herpetofauna and public opposition to biosecurity measures are critical obstacles to successfully preventing pathogen transmission. In 2019 we administered a survey to 2,007 members of the public in the United States of America to ascertain their support for interventions to prevent the spread of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal), ranaviruses, and Salmonella through the herpetological trade. We presented survey respondents with different potential hazards associated with pathogen transmission through this trade, namely ecological, economic, and human health impacts. We used structural equation models to determine how these different hazards and respondents' characteristics influenced respondents' support for quarantine and veterinary observation of herpetofauna imported into the United States, mandatory tests for diseases of concern, and best practices to reduce stress and improve the care of live herpetofauna during transport to the United States. Respondents' values and their perceived susceptibility and sensitivity to different hazards associated with pathogen transmission were key determinants of their support for biosecurity. Respondents with strong biospheric and altruistic values demonstrated sensitivity to ecological and human health impacts associated with pathogen transmission, whereas respondents with strong egoistic values demonstrated sensitivity to economic impacts. Respondents had limited knowledge of Bd, Bsal or ranaviruses, the size of the herpetological trade, or how this trade may contribute to pathogen transmission. Improved outreach and education on pathogen transmission through the herpetological trade is required, but it is important that messages are tailored to people with different values to elicit their support for biosecurity.SUPPORTING INFORMATION: S1 Appendix. Survey questionnaire. Multiple images used in the survey have been omitted because not all images are part of the creative commons.S2 Appendix. De-identified data set.S1 Table. Survey respondents’ demographic characteristics and ownership of domestic animals.S2 Table. Confirmatory factor analysis for respondents’ support for biosecurity for different survey versions that presented the ecological impacts, economic impacts, human health and wellbeing impacts, or all impacts of pathogen transmission.S3 Table. Distribution of respondents’ prior knowledge of reasons for herpetological imports (n = 2,007).S4 Table. Confirmatory factor analysis for respondents’ prior knowledge of reasons for herpetological imports (‘knowledge of herpetological imports’) for different survey versions that presented the ecological impacts, economic impacts, human health and wellbeing impacts, or all impacts of pathogen transmission.S5 Table. Distribution of responses to the question “How much do you like or dislike the following animals?” (n = 2,007).S6 Table. Confirmatory factor analysis for respondents’ ‘attitudes towards herpetofauna’ for different survey versions that presented the ecological impacts, economic impacts, human health and wellbeing impacts, or all impacts of pathogen transmission.S7 Table. Distribution of responses to the questions used to measure respondents’ sensitivity to general health risks (n = 2,007).S8 Table. Confirmatory factor analysis for the importance that respondents placed on protecting the health of animals in the live animal trade, native wildlife, the natural environment, pets, and livestock (‘sensitivity to general health risks’) for different survey versions that presented the ecological impacts, economic impacts, human health and wellbeing impacts, or all impacts of pathogen transmission.S9 Table. Distribution of responses to the questions used to measure respondents’ sensitivity to herpetological trade risks (n = 2,007).S10 Table. Confirmatory factor analysis for respondents’ level of concern about pathogen transmission from captive herpetofauna to other captive animals, native wildlife, pets, livestock, and humans (‘sensitivity to herpetological trade risk’) for different survey versions that presented the ecological impacts, economic impacts, human health and wellbeing impacts, or all impacts of pathogen transmission.S11 Table. Distribution of respondents’ risk perceptions pertaining to transmission of Bd, Bsal, ranaviruses and Salmonella by captive herpetofauna (n = 2,007).S12 Table. Confirmatory factor analysis for respondents’ ‘susceptibility to herpetological pathogen transmission’ for different survey versions that presented the ecological impacts, economic impacts, human health and wellbeing impacts, or all impacts of pathogen transmission.S13 Table. Distribution of respondents’ risk concerns about the ecological impacts of pathogen transmission through the herpetological trade (n = 995).S14 Table. Confirmatory factor analysis for respondents’ concern pertaining to ecological impacts of pathogen transmission through the herpetological trade (‘sensitivity to ecological risks’).S15 Table. Distribution of respondents’ risk concerns about the economic impacts of pathogen transmission through the herpetological trade (n = 995). (PDF) S16 Table. Confirmatory factor analysis for respondents’ concern pertaining to economic impacts of pathogen transmission through the herpetological trade (‘sensitivity to economic risks’).S17 Table. Distribution of respondents’ risk perceptions related to the economic impacts of pathogen transmission through the live herpetological trade (n = 995).S18 Table. Confirmatory factor analysis for respondents’ perceived ‘susceptibility to economic risks’ associated with pathogen transmission through the live herpetological trade.S19 Table. Distribution of respondents’ concerns about the human health and wellbeing impacts of pathogen transmission through the live herpetological trade (n = 993).S20 Table. Confirmatory factor analysis for respondents’ concern pertaining to human health and wellbeing impacts of pathogen transmission through the live herpetological trade (‘sensitivity to human health and wellbeing risks’).S21 Table. Respondents’ trust in the government to mitigate pathogen transmission risks associated with the live herpetological trade (n = 2,007).S22 Table. Confirmatory factor analysis for respondents’ ‘social trust’ for different survey versions that presented the ecological impacts, economic impacts, human health and wellbeing impacts, or all impacts of pathogen transmission.S23 Table. Distribution of responses to the Environmental Portrait Value Questionnaire: “Below are some statements about a random man/woman/person. How similar is this person to you?” (n = 2,007).S24 Table. Confirmatory factor analysis for respondents’ ‘biospheric values’.S25 Table. Confirmatory factor analysis for respondents’ ‘altruistic values’.S26 Table. Confirmatory factor analysis for respondents’ ‘hedonic values’.S27 Table. Confirmatory factor analysis for respondents’ ‘egoistic values’.S28 Table. Structural equation model of respondents’ support for improved biosecurity measures when presented with the ecological risks associated with pathogen transmission through the live herpetological trade (model 1, n = 507).S29 Table. Structural equation model of respondents’ support for improved biosecurity measures when presented with the economic risks associated with pathogen transmission through the live herpetological trade (model 2, n = 507).S30 Table. Structural equation model of respondents’ support for improved biosecurity measures when presented with the human health and wellbeing risks associated with pathogen transmission through the live herpetological trade (model 3, n = 505).S31 Table. Structural equation model of respondents’ support for improved biosecurity measures when presented with the ecological, economic, and human health and wellbeing risks associated with pathogen transmission through the live herpetological trade (model 4, n = 488).The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) under the Interdisciplinary Research on Invasive Species (IRIS) funding initiative.http://www.plosone.orghj2022Mammal Research Institut

When Pets become Pests: The Role of the Exotic Pet Trade in Producing Invasive Vertebrate Animals

The annual trade in exotic vertebrates as pets is a multi-billion- dollar global business. Thousands of species, and tens of millions of individual animals, are shipped both internationally and within countries to satisfy this demand. Most research on the exotic pet trade has focused on its contribution to native biodiversity loss and disease spread. Here, we synthesize information across taxa and research disciplines to document the exotic pet trade’s contribution to vertebrate biological invasions. We show recent and substantial worldwide growth in the number of non-native animal populations introduced via this invasion pathway, which demonstrates a strong potential to increase the number of invasive animals in the future. Key to addressing the invasion threat of exotic pets is learning more about the socioeconomic forces that drive the massive growth in the exotic pet market and the socioecological factors that underlie pet release by owners. These factors likely vary according to cultural pet-keeping traditions across regions and whether purchases were legal or illegal. These gaps in our understanding of the exotic pet trade must be addressed in order to implement effective policy solutions