24.1 Introduction
Research that addresses the human and social dimensions of invasion science is
crucial for understanding and responding to biological invasions as people are
involved in all parts of the introduction-naturalisation-invasion-response continuum
(Head 2017; Shackleton et al. 2019a). Despite the need for humanities and social
science perspectives in invasion science, to date there has been relatively little work in
this area (Le Maitre et al. 2004; Vaz et al. 2017a; Abrahams et al. 2019). Consequently, there are many research gaps and missed opportunities for interdisciplinary
collaboration which is necessary to truly advance and address pressing challenges in
dynamic and varied contexts (Vaz et al. 2017a; Abrahams et al. 2019). To promote
uptake, Shackleton et al. (2019a) recently highlighted four broad issues in which
research on the human and social dimensions of invasion science can help to improve
understanding and guide management responses. These four areas are: (1) how people
cause invasions, (2) how people conceptualise and perceive invasions, (3) the effects
of invasions on people, and (4) how people respond to invasions.
In this chapter, for each thematic area, we advance three propositions (statements
or proposals for consideration and which can help in asserting a generalisable trend
or process—similar to a hypothesis) and examine the evidence in support of each of
them in the South African context (Table 24.1). We tried to ensure that the propositions were pertinent to current research topics and trends, and to ensure that they
would be useful and relevant to guide future work. We used propositions as a means
to move beyond just a summary of current knowledge of the social contributions to
invasion science towards a more focussed, analytic and critical stance as the necessary foundation for development of knowledge and theory and future research. The
process of examining the available evidence for each proposition fosters in-depth
thinking of what evidence is available, where different points conflict and where
gaps in research persist. The propositions are not specific to South Africa, but the
relative richness of research on biological invasions in the country offers a reasonable first opportunity to investigate them.
24.2 Humans as Causes of Alien Species Invasions
Humans are the primary agents for the deliberate or inadvertent introduction of alien
species outside their native ranges, some of which become invasive. In South Africa,
work by historians and, to a lesser degree, by researchers in other social science and
humanities disciplines, has detailed the role that people play in facilitating biological
invasions. In particular, many purposeful introductions have been driven by specific
societal mind-sets or ethos, operating in different eras (Carruthers et al. 2011; Kull
et al. 2011; Udo et al. 2019), and humans facilitated the establishment of invasions
by modifying species and landscapes. In South Africa and globally, understanding
the social drivers and processes of species introductions is probably the best
researched of the four thematic areas.
702
R. T. Shackleton et al.
Research that addresses the human and social dimensions of invasion science is
crucial for understanding and responding to biological invasions as people are
involved in all parts of the introduction-naturalisation-invasion-response continuum
(Head 2017; Shackleton et al. 2019a). Despite the need for humanities and social
science perspectives in invasion science, to date there has been relatively little work in
this area (Le Maitre et al. 2004; Vaz et al. 2017a; Abrahams et al. 2019). Consequently, there are many research gaps and missed opportunities for interdisciplinary
collaboration which is necessary to truly advance and address pressing challenges in
dynamic and varied contexts (Vaz et al. 2017a; Abrahams et al. 2019). To promote
uptake, Shackleton et al. (2019a) recently highlighted four broad issues in which
research on the human and social dimensions of invasion science can help to improve
understanding and guide management responses. These four areas are: (1) how people
cause invasions, (2) how people conceptualise and perceive invasions, (3) the effects
of invasions on people, and (4) how people respond to invasions.
In this chapter, for each thematic area, we advance three propositions (statements
or proposals for consideration and which can help in asserting a generalisable trend
or process—similar to a hypothesis) and examine the evidence in support of each of
them in the South African context (Table 24.1). We tried to ensure that the propositions were pertinent to current research topics and trends, and to ensure that they
would be useful and relevant to guide future work. We used propositions as a means
to move beyond just a summary of current knowledge of the social contributions to
invasion science towards a more focussed, analytic and critical stance as the necessary foundation for development of knowledge and theory and future research. The
process of examining the available evidence for each proposition fosters in-depth
thinking of what evidence is available, where different points conflict and where
gaps in research persist. The propositions are not specific to South Africa, but the
relative richness of research on biological invasions in the country offers a reasonable first opportunity to investigate them.
24.2 Humans as Causes of Alien Species Invasions
Humans are the primary agents for the deliberate or inadvertent introduction of alien
species outside their native ranges, some of which become invasive. In South Africa,
work by historians and, to a lesser degree, by researchers in other social science and
humanities disciplines, has detailed the role that people play in facilitating biological
invasions. In particular, many purposeful introductions have been driven by specific
societal mind-sets or ethos, operating in different eras (Carruthers et al. 2011; Kull
et al. 2011; Udo et al. 2019), and humans facilitated the establishment of invasions
by modifying species and landscapes. In South Africa and globally, understanding
the social drivers and processes of species introductions is probably the best
researched of the four thematic areas.
702
R. T. Shackleton et al.