DOCTORAL DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Invasive Species and the Amplification of Risk and Risk Perceptions among Active Stakeholder Groups

入侵物种对人类（如经济、健康）和野生动物（如竞争、捕食）构成风险。它们还对社区和生态系统的多样性构成生态风险。目前，公众对入侵动物相关风险的态度和容忍度知之甚少。为了解决这一差距，本研究研究了与野猫相关的感知风险，野猫是一种入侵性的、有魅力的物种，在美国有超过2500万只，与人类密切相关。研究中使用的方法是对佛罗里达州的利益相关者和公众进行定量邮件调查。本研究促进了对风险感知的理论认识，包括对直接风险和生态风险感知的影响因素。该研究比较了利益相关者之间以及利益相关者与公众之间的风险认知。这项研究的结果将加强管理选择，以尽量减少本土和受威胁野生动物被捕食和竞争的风险；尽量减少人畜共患疾病从野猫向宠物和人传播的可能性；并减少滋扰行为的实例：污染庭院和开放空间，杀死鸟类或观赏鱼，破坏花园。虽然这项研究的重点是一个物种，但研究结果将深入了解风险感知、耐受性和态度之间的关系，这些关系将影响其他入侵家养和野生物种的管理和保护。

Invasive species pose risks to people (e.g., economic, health) and wildlife (e.g., competition, predation). They also pose ecological risks to the diversity of communities and ecosystems. Little is currently known about public attitudes about and tolerance for the risks associated with invasive animals. To address this gap, this research studies the perceived risks associated with feral cats, an invasive, charismatic species, numbering over 25 million in the U.S., and strongly associated with people. The method used in the research is a quantitative mail survey of stakeholders and the public in Florida. This study advances the theoretical understanding of risk perceptions including the factors contributing to perceptions of direct and ecological risk. The study compares risk perceptions among stakeholders and between stakeholders and the public. The results of this research will enhance management options to minimize the risk of predation and competition for native and threatened wildlife; minimize the potential spread of zoonotic diseases from feral cats to pets and people; and reduce instances of nuisance behaviors: the fouling of yards and open space, killing of birds or ornamental fish and damage to gardens. While this research focuses on one species, the findings will provide insight into the relationship between risk perceptions, tolerance, and attitudes that will influence the management and conservation of other invasive domestic and wild species.