TY - JOUR
T1 - Confronting the “knowledge-action gap” in invasive species prevention
T2 - A study of biosecurity behaviors among aquarium hobbyists in Illinois, USA
AU - Golebie, Elizabeth J.
AU - van Riper, Carena J.
AU - Hitzroth, Greg
AU - Joffe-Nelson, North
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 The Authors
PY - 2025
Y1 - 2025
N2 - Biological invasions threaten water resources worldwide owing to interrelated biological and anthropogenic drivers of change. Though the role of people in the (un)intentional spread of aquatic invasive species is increasingly recognized as a priority, there are widespread assumptions about the importance of public awareness in explaining biosecurity behaviors. A disconnect exists between what people think and what they do—as articulated by the simple but powerful “knowledge-action” gap—that warrants attention to clarify how environmental social science research can most effectively advance invasive species prevention. Using survey data collected from aquarium hobbyists in the U.S. state of Illinois, we investigated the role of belief systems in shaping intentions to engage in biosecurity behaviors, such as purchasing only native species as pets. We also examined how beliefs were rooted in multiple forms of knowledge. Self-efficacy was the strongest driver of intended biosecurity behavior, whereas both perceived benefits and risk perceptions were instrumental in explaining hobbyists’ decisions. Beliefs were informed by two types of reported knowledge, which in turn, were influenced by a range of information sources. Our results suggest that a more nuanced conceptualization of public awareness is urgently needed given its critical but often misunderstood role in the formation of beliefs that influence participation in biosecurity behaviors. Knowledge of both biological invasions and biosecurity behaviors, in addition to information sources, needs to be distinguished in future research. These multiple forms of knowledge serve as the foundation for belief systems that activate behavior change among aquarium hobbyists. We also argue that science communication and outreach campaigns that highlight the risks of invasive species while strengthening self-efficacy and perceived benefits of prevention will be the most effective pathways for fostering hobbyist engagement in biosecurity behaviors.
AB - Biological invasions threaten water resources worldwide owing to interrelated biological and anthropogenic drivers of change. Though the role of people in the (un)intentional spread of aquatic invasive species is increasingly recognized as a priority, there are widespread assumptions about the importance of public awareness in explaining biosecurity behaviors. A disconnect exists between what people think and what they do—as articulated by the simple but powerful “knowledge-action” gap—that warrants attention to clarify how environmental social science research can most effectively advance invasive species prevention. Using survey data collected from aquarium hobbyists in the U.S. state of Illinois, we investigated the role of belief systems in shaping intentions to engage in biosecurity behaviors, such as purchasing only native species as pets. We also examined how beliefs were rooted in multiple forms of knowledge. Self-efficacy was the strongest driver of intended biosecurity behavior, whereas both perceived benefits and risk perceptions were instrumental in explaining hobbyists’ decisions. Beliefs were informed by two types of reported knowledge, which in turn, were influenced by a range of information sources. Our results suggest that a more nuanced conceptualization of public awareness is urgently needed given its critical but often misunderstood role in the formation of beliefs that influence participation in biosecurity behaviors. Knowledge of both biological invasions and biosecurity behaviors, in addition to information sources, needs to be distinguished in future research. These multiple forms of knowledge serve as the foundation for belief systems that activate behavior change among aquarium hobbyists. We also argue that science communication and outreach campaigns that highlight the risks of invasive species while strengthening self-efficacy and perceived benefits of prevention will be the most effective pathways for fostering hobbyist engagement in biosecurity behaviors.
KW - Awareness
KW - Efficacy
KW - Health belief model
KW - Invasive species
KW - Pro-environmental behavior
KW - Risk perceptions
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U2 - 10.1016/j.watbs.2024.100337
DO - 10.1016/j.watbs.2024.100337
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85214343293
SN - 2772-7351
JO - Water Biology and Security
JF - Water Biology and Security
M1 - 100337
ER -