Closing the Screen Door to New Invasions

• DOI: 10.1111/conl.12071
• Publication Date: 2013-10-12T01:42:34Z
• Authors: Reuben P. Keller; Michael R. Spring...
• Keywords: 0106 biological sciences; 15. Life on land; 01 natural sciences

Abstract International trade in nonnative species generates economic benefits but also introduces many harmful invasive species. Recent advances screening tools enable useful predictions of invasiveness which can be combined with estimates impacts to effectively manage the trade‐off between and costs this trade. Despite this, most countries maintain an essentially “open door” policy where almost all are allowed for introduction until they prove problematic. This approach implicitly favors minimizing one particular type assessment error—mistakenly excluding safe species, or “false positives.” However, a comprehensive management should involve balancing false positives negatives” (mistakenly accepting species). Barriers implementing risk include perception that because imperfect not suitable decision‐making. recent research shows that, relative open door approach, “shutting screen informative tools, allow flow only those acceptable invasion risk, increases net Given these relatively straightforward apply, we argue policy‐makers no longer perfect enemy good.