Floral hazards: nootka lupin in iceland and the complex politics of invasive life

Abstract

Once established in new spaces, exotic plants not only impact the “native” biota, but also affect environmental politics in often complex ways. This article looks into one instance of such politics: that of the Nootka lupin (Lupinus nootkatensis), a leguminous plant of North American origin. Imported to Iceland in 1945 to stem soil degradation and recover vegetation, it soon became firmly established in Icelandic landscapes. Its spreading was actively assisted by human actors as part of fulfilling a moral duty to heal a land scarred by unsustainable past land use practices. Changing perspectives in environmental management have brought about a radical reversal in the lupin's status. It is now seen by many as a “floral hazard”, and has been declared an “invasive alien species” by the Ministry for the Environment. New lines of defence are being established to curb its spread into the deserts of the central highlands. A polarized debate has ensued about the politics of invasive life. Increased research by natural scientists has not led to any resolution. It is argued that such seemingly intractable controversies cannot be resolved unless close attention is paid to the historical construction of values and moralities underwriting the production of the discursive communities involved. Conditions of radical uncertainty with the advent of the Anthropocene further complicate the politics of invasive life.

The role of species charisma in biological invasions

“…The perception of species charisma can therefore be influenced (both positively and negatively) by the way species are portrayed, via increased media exposure or by emphasizing specific points of view ( Figure 3; Veitch and Clout 2001; Crowley et al 2017;Shackleton et al 2019). As a case in point, public perception and the stance of official bodies toward Nootka lupine (Lupinus nootkatensis) in Iceland shifted from positive to largely negative because of an ongoing public debate in the media (Petursdottir et al 2013;Benediktsson 2015). Effects of IAS charisma and their media representation and communication are essentially interrelated, in that they influence each other and the way species will be ultimately perceived.…”

“…As a case in point, public perception and the stance of official bodies toward Nootka lupine ( Lupinus nootkatensis ) in Iceland shifted from positive to largely negative because of an ongoing public debate in the media (Petursdottir et al . ; Benediktsson ). Effects of IAS charisma and their media representation and communication are essentially interrelated, in that they influence each other and the way species will be ultimately perceived.…”

Pangaea's return: towards an ontology of invasive life

“…So-called experts and lay people are only points in a continuum of possible social practices and affects. Indeed, the category of the expert is by no means straightforward (Benediktsson 2015). experts of different kinds may be affected in very different ways by the same form of invasive life.…”

“…Affects such as anxieties around invasive life have their own reality, which is only imperfectly mirrored by focusing on experts alone (ernwein and Fall 2015;everts 2015). engaging in discursive and also the more material practices of fighting for, against or with invasive life also entails practices shared by people independently of their academic credentials (Head and Atchison 2015;Benediktsson 2015;everts 2015).…”

The effect of insect herbivory on seed production of Lupinus nootkatensis, an introduced species in Iceland

“…The use of L. nootkatensis in Iceland has been disputed for decades (Benediktsson ) and it is now listed as an invasive exotic plant species (Magnusson ). It regenerates by seed dispersal from nearby plants or from a long‐lived seedbank that accumulates in the soil (Sigurdsson & Magnusson ).…”