Global concerns related to water biology and security:The need for language and policies that safeguard living resources versus those that dilute scientific knowledge  

作　　者：Robert M.Hughes James R.Karr Robert L.Vadas Dominick A.DellaSala Marcos Callisto Maria Joao Feio Teresa Ferreira Neels Kleynhans Renata Ruaro Chris O.Yoder J.Hal Michael 

机构地区：[1]Amnis Opes Institute,2895 SE Glenn,Corvallis,OR,97333,USA [2]Department of Fisheries,Wildlife,&Conservation Sciences,Oregon State University,Corvallis,OR,97331,USA [3]School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences,University of Washington,Seattle,WA,98915,USA [4]Karr Consulting,102 Galaxy View Court,Sequim,WA,98382,USA [5]2909 Boulevard Rd.SE,Olympia,WA,98501-3971,USA [6]Wild Heritage,a Project of Earth Island Institute,2150 Allston Way,Berkeley,CA,94704-1346,USA [7]Departamento de Genetica,Ecologia e Evolucao,Instituto de Ciencias Biologicas,Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais,Avenida Antonio Carlos 6627,CEP 31270-901,Belo Horizonte,MG,Brazil [8]Associate Laboratory ARNET,Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre,Department of Life Sciences,University of Coimbra,Coimbra,Portugal [9]Forest Research Centre&Associate Laboratory TERRA,University of Lisbon,Tapada da Ajuda,1349-017,Lisbon,Portugal [10]Department of Water Affairs and Forestry(retired),8th Avenue 771,Wonderboom South,0084,Pretoria,South Africa [11]Graduate Program in Environmental Science and Technology,Federal Technological University of Parana,81280-340,Curitiba,PR,Brazil [12]Midwest Biodiversity Institute,4673 Northwest Parkway,Hilliard,OH,43026,USA [13]Ecologists Without Borders,Olympia,WA,USA

出　　处：《Water Biology and Security》2023年第4期136-146,共11页水生生物与安全（英文）

摘　　要：Increasingly,scientists and non-scientists,especially employees of government agencies,tend to use weak or equivocal language when making statements related to science policy and governmental regulation.We use recent publications to provide examples of vague language versus examples of strong language when authors write about regulating anthropogenic pressures on natural resources.Lifeless language is common in agency reports,policy documents,and even scientific papers published by academics.Such language limits success in regulating anthropogenic pressures on natural resources.This challenge must be recognized and countered as a driver of the condition of water and associated resources.We also list sources of vague wording,provide global examples of how ambiguous language and political influences have contributed to water resource degradation,discuss the recent history of science censorship,and offer possible solutions for more direct scientific discourse.We found that:(1)equivocal language was especially common in concluding statements and not only by government employees;(2)authors discussed confusing language concerns in an agency publication;and(3)agency employees sometimes used active,strong language.Key drivers of weak language include:(1)holding on to old paradigms and resisting new knowledge;(2)scientific uncertainty;(3)institutional manuscript review policies;(4)employment and funding insecurity;and(5)avoiding the appearance of advocacy.Examples associated with euphemistic language included climate change,flow and physical habitat alteration,dams,agriculture,mining,forestry,and fisheries,as well as resistance towards monitoring,assessing,and reporting ecological conditions.Suggestions for mitigating equivocal language involve employment protections and greater focus on scientific ethics.We conclude that natural resource scientists should resist calls to employ imprecise language.Instead,they should be strong advocates for prescriptive and protective natural resource actions—based on their science—to

关 键 词：CORRUPTION Ethics Science censoring Science policy Water resource degradation 

分 类 号：Q178.1[生物学—水生生物学]