Biological invasions are a widespread phenomenon and cause substantial impacts on the natural environment and human livelihoods. Thus, the European Union (EU) recently adopted Regulation No 1143/2014 to limit the negative impacts of invasive alien species (IAS). For implementing IAS management and policies, public support is highly and increasingly important, especially when it comes to charismatic species and lethal methods. Recognising the importance of the interaction of public perception with acceptance of IAS management methods, we used an online survey targeting three different stakeholder groups in Austria to evaluate potential differences in perception of IAS and management methods. In total, we received 239 completed responses: 20 nature users (farmers, hunters), 91 nature experts (conservationists, biologists) and 128 from the general public. Participants were more likely to accept lethal management methods when it was an IAS. Nature experts’ acceptance of IAS management methods was rather similar to those of nature users, while the general public preferred non-lethal methods. Chemical lethal methods (herbicides, poison pellets) received low rates of acceptance throughout all stakeholder groups, although nature users were more open to accept such methods for plants. Most respondents (> 50%) were not aware of the role of the EU in IAS topics nor did they know of the existence of the EUIAS regulation 1143/2014. However, more than 75% of respondents agreed that IAS measures and regulations should be implemented at EU level. This study shows that knowledge about native versus invasive alien status has an influence on the acceptance of management methods. Nature users may have higher levels of acceptance of lethal methods because they are economically dependent on extracting resources from nature. Invasive alien species regulations on EU level are generally acceptable, but there is low awareness for actions already undertaken EU.

中文翻译：

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不同社会群体对外来动植物的感知和控制方法的接受

生物入侵是一种普遍现象，对自然环境和人类生计造成重大影响。因此，欧盟（EU）最近通过了第1143/2014号法规，以限制外来入侵物种（IAS）的负面影响。对于实施IAS管理和政策，公众的支持越来越重要，尤其是在具有魅力的物种和致命方法方面。认识到公众认知与接受IAS管理方法互动的重要性，我们使用了针对奥地利三个不同利益相关者群体的在线调查，以评估IAS认知和管理方法之间的潜在差异。我们总共收到239份完整的回复：20位自然使用者（农民，猎人），91位自然专家（保护主义者，生物学家）和128位公众人士。在IAS上，参与者更有可能接受致命的管理方法。自然界专家对IAS管理方法的接受程度与自然使用者相似，而公众则倾向于使用非致命性方法。化学致死方法（除草剂，毒丸）在所有利益相关者群体中的接受率都很低，尽管自然使用者更愿意接受这种方法用于植物。大多数受访者（> 50％）不了解欧盟在IAS主题中的作用，也不知道EUIAS法规1143/2014的存在。但是，超过75％的受访者同意，IAS的措施和规定应在欧盟一级实施。这项研究表明，关于本机与入侵外星人身份的知识会影响管理方法的接受度。大自然使用者对致命方法的接受程度可能更高，因为他们在经济上依赖于从大自然中提取资源。普遍接受欧盟一级的外来入侵物种法规，但对欧盟已采取的行动的意识不足。