Memo+5+-+Hierarch+of+Research+Questions+-+Gregory+Niguidula

i) ** Why is conservation important to humans? ** (1) //When does conservation become more about humans than the environment?// (a) What is the end goal when removing an invading species? What do you envision? What are the benefits? (b) Do you have any personal reasons for wanting to combat invasive species? If so what are they? Are they sentimental in nature? (c) In what cases are invasive species beneficial? When do these benefits outweigh the problems they cause? (d) Why is there so much concern over invasives in the first place? (2) //What are the cultural connotations surrounding invasive species?// (a) What is the first thing that goes through your mind when you hear of a new invasion? (b) How do scientists define invasive species? (c) How do laymen define invasive species? (d) Overall, how well do you think your peers understand the impacts of invasive species on the environment? (e) Overall, how well do you think your peers understand their impact on humans?

ii) **How can management policy be improved?** (1) //What are the underlying assumptions in the minds of those creating species management plans/policy?// (a) What is considered “common practice” while fighting invasives? (b) What is the process of creating a species management plan? (c) Why do these species need to be controlled? (d) What kinds of people are involved in the decision-making process? (e) Are invasive species inherently bad for the environment? (f) How are species chosen for eradication? (g) How does one know if the problem has been solved? (2) //How are communities utilized in fighting invasions?// (a) How are local communities involved in invasive species projects? (b) What information about these projects is disseminated to the public? (c) In what form is the information distributed? (d) How receptive is the public to helping with these efforts? (e) What is the public asked to do? How often is it done? (3) //How can attitudes about invasives be changed?// (a) Do you know of any cases when invasive species became an asset to the environment? (b) Did this prompt an eradication effort to stop? (c) How easy or difficult is it to end an eradication effort?

iii) **When are conservation efforts doing more harm than good?** (1) //Under what circumstances are invasives truly harmful?// (a) What criteria does a species have to fill to be considered invasive? (b) What are the extreme cases of invasive species causing damage? (2) //Under what circumstances are the invasives best left alone?// (a) How common are foreign non-invasive species? (b) What are the extreme cases of species management strategies?