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Empirical evidence for different cognitive effects in explaining the attribution of marine range shifts to climate change
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-18, 19:03 authored by Elizabeth Van PuttenElizabeth Van Putten, Stewart FrusherStewart Frusher, Elizabeth FultonElizabeth Fulton, Hobday, AJ, Sarah JenningsSarah Jennings, Metcalf, S, Gretta PeclGretta PeclThe changing geographical distribution of species, or range shift, is one of the better documented fingerprints of climate change in the marine environment. Range shifts may also lead to dramatic changes in the distribution of economic, social, and cultural opportunities. These challenge marine resource users’ capacity to adapt to a changing climate and managers’ ability to implement adaptation plans. In particular, a reluctance to attribute marine range shift to climate change can undermine the effectiveness of climate change communications and pose a potential barrier to successful adaptation. Attribution is a known powerful predictor of behavioural intention. Understanding the cognitive processes that underpin the formation of marine resource users’ beliefs about the cause of observed marine range shift phenomena is therefore an important topic for research. An examination of the attribution by marine resource users of three types of range shifts experienced in a marine climate change hotspot in southeast Australia to various climate and non-climate drivers indicates the existence of at least three contributing cognitions. These are: (i) engrained mental representations of environmental phenomena, (ii) scientific complexity in the attribution pathway, and (iii) dissonance from the positive or negative nature of the impact. All three play a part in explaining the complex pattern of attribution of marine climate change range shifts, and should be considered when planning for engagement with stakeholders and managers around adaptation to climate change.
History
Publication title
ICES Journal of Marine ScienceVolume
73Issue
5Pagination
1306-1318ISSN
1054-3139Department/School
Institute for Marine and Antarctic StudiesPublisher
Academic Press Ltd Elsevier Science LtdPlace of publication
24-28 Oval Rd, London, England, Nw1 7DxRights statement
Copyright 2015 International Council for the Exploration of the SeaRepository Status
- Restricted