Engaging the importance of community scientists in the management of an invasive marine pest

California Agriculture

Edwin Grosholz¹  Kate Bimrose²  Linda McCann³  Sabrina Drill⁴ 

[1] E. Grosholz is Professor and Alexander and Elizabeth Swantz Specialist in Cooperative Extension, Department of Environmental Science and Policy, UC Davis;K. Bimrose is Bolinas Lagoon Restoration Project Coordinator, Greater Farallones Association, San Francisco, Calif.;L. McCann is Research Technician, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Tiburon, Calif.;S. Drill is Natural Resources Advisor, UC Cooperative Extension, Los Angeles and Ventura counties;

关键词: community science;    invasive species;    european green crab;    coastal;    wetland;    estuary;    citizen science;   

DOI  :  10.3733/ca.2021a0006

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

The introduction of nonnative invasive pests is among the many threats facing coastal ecosystems worldwide. Managing these pests often requires considerable effort and resources, and community scientists can be essential for providing the capacity needed for management and monitoring activities. In response to the invasion of a Northern California estuary by the predatory European green crab, a collaborative team of academic researchers and community scientists initiated a local eradication program. The green crab is listed among the world's 100 worst invaders, and threatened both native species and commercial shellfisheries. The program dramatically reduced the green crab population over a 5-year period, but it rebounded, which necessitated a switch in project goals from eradication to population suppression. Community scientists were essential for facilitating this switch by providing the necessary capacity to quantify population characteristics and maintain reduced crab populations. The result was a sustainable program that successfully maintained low green crab densities, which will likely improve habitat for native species.

【 授权许可】

Unknown