Ethical consideration in invasion ecology: A marine perspective

Abstract

Summary Biological introductions of species to regions outside their known natural distribution are considered a major threat to native marine biodiversity and a key consideration for ecological management. For most invasive species in marine systems, however, little is known about potential impacts. If we are to increase our knowledge of the processes and mechanisms behind the spread of nonindigenous species or determine economic or ecological impacts, manipulative ecological field experiments are the best way to unambiguously ascribe causal relationships. For studies of invasions, such research may result in species spread and the establishment of new viable populations. Is it ethical then, to take the risk of potentially modifying or endangering other species, populations or ecosystems? Is it possible to mitigate the risks? Or should invasion ecologists work under restrictions that limit their ability to fully assess the impact of invaders? Consideration of the ethics of experimentation is rarely carried out. As a consequence, we propose a decision model that includes possible risk of escape/establishment versus the value of the research to allow researchers and/or managers to critically evaluate what type of experimental approach is appropriate.

Rocky Intertidal Zonation Pattern in Antofagasta, Chile: Invasive Species and Shellfish Gathering

“…This zonation pattern in the bay greatly contrasts with that observed in mid-intertidal fringes on other parts of the Chilean coast, where in the absence of the tunicate s, the mussel dominates the mid-intertidal primary substratum [1] , [31] , [32] . Environmental and ethical constraints [33] , [34] have prevented us from undertaking large-scale removals (dozens or hundreds of meters) of tunicate or mussel inside the bay to test at a large-scale the inter-specific competitive hypothesis. Instead, we carried out small-scale manipulative and transplant field experiments, in caging units of less than 400 cm 2 , to test the competition strength and survival between P. praeputialis and P. purpuratus [18] , [30] .…”

Oceanography and Marine Biology

“…Interestingly, an experimental study by Borsje et al (2011) found that nonnative oyster beds were more effective in wave attenuation than were native mussel beds. Nonnative species, however, should not be introduced for shoreline protection purposes if they are not already naturalised in the targeted environment, or if their presence will lead to negative ecological or socioeconomic impacts that outweigh their benefits (Bunting & Coleman 2014). Ultimately, the habitat-forming species need to be self-sustaining.…”

Examining the molecular mechanisms contributing to the success of an invasive species across different ecosystems

“…In the study of invasive species, the ability to examine molecular processes associated with phenotypically plastic responses (e.g., through environmentally driven gene expression differences) and those indicative of local adaptive evolution (e.g., through changes in allele frequencies) is often limited by the relative lack of background genetic data available, particularly for non-model species [16]. Examining these two processes can be further complicated when traditional methods used to assess local adaptation, such as reciprocal translocation experiments, bring up ethical concerns since moving invasive populations to new locations may increase their potential spread [17]. This concern may be especially true for highly prolific invasive species.…”