By Natalie Belva
Floridians correctly identify habitat loss as the main threat to plants and animals, according to a recent study by the UF/IFAS Center for Public Issues Education
Of the 499 respondents surveyed in the third of a four-part series of public opinion surveys, 39 percent attributed habitat loss as the main cause leading to the endangerment of plants and animals. Pollution accounted for 16 percent of the responses, and 14 percent responded with habitat degradation. Combined, 87 percent of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that loss of habitat was a primary threat to endangered plants and animals.
According to an article that appeared in BioScience Journal titled “Quantifying Threats to Imperiled Species in the United States,” habitat loss or degradation accounts for 85 percent of species imperilment, followed by non-native or invasive species at 49 percent and pollution around 25 percent.
In past studies, such as the earlier public opinion surveys conducted on immigration reform, discrepancies existed between public perception and actual statistics, according to PIE Center Director Tracy Irani.
“In previous surveys this year, we’ve noted some knowledge gaps where the public perceives the issues or the situation a little bit differently than the actual facts,” she said. “That didn’t happen as much this time. This might mean that endangered species is an issue that is high enough on the public’s agenda that they’re paying attention to information they’re exposed to, retaining some of that information. That may be the respondents in this survey get it right in terms of understanding what the threats and causes are.”
Other factors that were surveyed included measuring attitudes toward human activities that contribute to the endangerment, including chemical and industrial pollution and agricultural chemicals, as well as both legal fishing and hunting. A majority of those surveyed, 79 percent, agreed or strongly agreed that chemical and industrial pollution contributed to the endangerment of species. Similar results were found with regard to agricultural chemicals, with 76 percent agreeing or strongly agreeing.
According to the results, legal fishing and legal hunting was not viewed as much of a threat, as the majority of those surveyed remained neutral in their view. Only 8 percent strongly agreed that legal fishing was a contributor, and 13 percent strongly agreed that legal hunting was contributing to the endangerment of species.
The PIE Center will continue to conduct public opinion surveys each year that focus on key issues in Florida. Previous topics included water and immigration reform. Results from a fourth public opinions survey, focused on food production practices, will be published in early December. The surveys will repeat annually to track changes in public opinion over time.
