The Attractiveness of Freshwater Species Correlates Positively With Conservation Support
2023
Authors:
Lipták, BorisKouba, Antonín
Zorić, Katarina
Salvaras, Lazaros
Prokop, Pavol
Paunović, Momir
Document Type:
Article (Published version)
,
© 2023 by The Author(s), under exclusive license to Taylor & Francis
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract:
The attractiveness of a species influences human perceptions and
attitudes toward it, while flagship species play a significant role in
shaping public conservation interests. This research investigated
how humans perceive the attractiveness of and their willingness
to protect vertebrate and invertebrate aquatic representatives. The
study focused on endangered and invasive fish and crayfish
species presented to the participants through pictures shared via
an online questionnaire. Participants rated the attractiveness of
the species and indicated their willingness to protect them using
a 7-point scale. The analysis was conducted based on 118
responses from men and women whose backgrounds varied in
terms of their age, education, and knowledge regarding biological
invasions. The findings indicate that the perceived attractiveness
of a species was the primary factor influencing the participants’
willingness to protect the species: the more attractive a species
was rated, the greater the willingness to protect it. Overall,
endangered fish and crayfish species received higher willingnessto-protect scores than invasive species, with crayfish species being
perceived as significantly more attractive than fish. Using
attractive or flagship aquatic species, such as crayfish, in the
conservation efforts of endangered freshwater taxa can enhance
public, stakeholder, and policymaker awareness, thereby
potentially contributing to the conservation and restoration of
freshwater ecosystems and the protection of native biota.
Keywords:
Aquatic invasions; biological invasions; conservation; crayfish; fish; human–animal interactionSource:
Anthrozoös, 2023, 36, 6, 971-984Funding / projects:
- Operation Program of Integrated Infrastructure for the project UpScale of Comenius University Capacities and Competence in Research, Development and Innovation, ITMS2014+: 313021BUZ3, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund
- Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation of the Republic of Serbia, institutional funding - 200007 (University of Belgrade, Institute for Biological Research 'Siniša Stanković') (RS-MESTD-inst-2020-200007)
DOI: 10.1080/08927936.2023.2254551
ISSN: 0892-7936