Confronting the “knowledge-action gap” in invasive species prevention: A study of biosecurity behaviors among aquarium hobbyists in Illinois, USA

Biological invasions threaten water resources worldwide owing to interrelated biological and anthropogenic drivers of change. Though the role of people in the (un)intentional spread of aquatic invasive species is increasingly recognized as a priority, there are widespread assumptions about the importance of public awareness in explaining biosecurity behaviors. A disconnect exists between what people think and what they do—as articulated by the simple but powerful “knowledge-action” gap—that warrants attention to clarify how environmental social science research can most effectively advance invasive species prevention. Using survey data collected from aquarium hobbyists in the U.S. state of Illinois, we investigated the role of belief systems in shaping intentions to engage in biosecurity behaviors, such as purchasing only native species as pets. We also examined how beliefs were rooted in multiple forms of knowledge. Self-efficacy was the strongest driver of intended biosecurity behavior, whereas both perceived benefits and risk perceptions were instrumental in explaining hobbyists’ decisions. Beliefs were informed by two types of reported knowledge, which in turn, were influenced by a range of information sources. Our results suggest that a more nuanced conceptualization of public awareness is urgently needed given its critical but often misunderstood role in the formation of beliefs that influence participation in biosecurity behaviors. Knowledge of both biological invasions and biosecurity behaviors, in addition to information sources, needs to be distinguished in future research. These multiple forms of knowledge serve as the foundation for belief systems that activate behavior change among aquarium hobbyists. We also argue that science communication and outreach campaigns that highlight the risks of invasive species while strengthening self-efficacy and perceived benefits of prevention will be the most effective pathways for fostering hobbyist engagement in biosecurity behaviors.