Media myopia distorts public interest in US invasive plants

Abstract Introduced invasive plants are a major environmental problem, but public interest in is generally considered low compared to climate change and threatened flagship species, hindering support for effective management policy. To understand what does drive the US, we investigated Google Trends search data from 2010 2020 209 introduced plant species found continental US. Using phylogenetically-controlled structural equation model, three hypothesized drivers of interest: (1) abundance as quantified by national state-level occurrence records Global Biodiversity Information Facility, (2) four key traits that might influence conspicuousness general public: ornamental use, human health risks, monoculture formation, with positive economic value, (3) media coverage, particular volume sentiment news articles over same 10-year period. Public was highest most abundant those significantly lower ornamentals. News coverage mostly negatively toned disproportionately focused on relatively small group widespread more positively-worded Ultimately, suggest narrow emphasis few highly covered ‘notorious’ could send mixed messages weaken awareness threats biological invasions. However, strong linkages between suggests ample opportunity improve messaging increase awareness.