Search

The Gulf of Mexico red snapper fishery has been caught in a spiral of more restrictive regulations and disputed management. Current management measures have failed to reduce fishing mortality, owing in part to derby style fishing. A harvest tag system could potentially better limit fishing mortality without decreasing harvest seasons. In 2019/20 we surveyed 766 recreational anglers who fish in Florida with private boats to ascertain their preferences for regulation changes, and how they would alter their fishing effort if a harvest tag was implemented. Respondents were heterogeneous in terms of their preferences for harvest tags versus current management approaches, with most respondents preferring to maintain their current effort under the existing management approach of bag, size, and season limits. Respondents who preferred harvest tags indicated that they might increase or decrease fishing effort. Our findings suggest that more stringent regulations using current management approaches will not secure angler satisfaction or reduce fishing pressure on the red snapper stock. Harvest tags, though not preferred by all respondents, may allow regulators to better manage the number of anglers in the fishery and to rebuild the stock, although implementing this program will pose some challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urbanization is a key driver of global environmental change and is adversely impacting wildlife populations. Human tolerance for wildlife is critical to wildlife conservation in urban areas.Using metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia, United States, as a case study, we investigated human tolerance for a range of different wildlife species. Almost half of the human–wildlife interactions that are reported to the state wildlife agency originate from metropolitan Atlanta, which is one of the fastest growing metropolises in the United States.We surveyed a representative sample of 1006 residents of metropolitan Atlanta in 2022. We found heterogeneity in respondents' tolerance for various species, although most respondents were intolerant of bobcats, coyotes, opossums and snakes. Respondents' tolerance for different species largely depended on their attitudes and emotions towards species, and their basic beliefs pertaining to wildlife and the relationships between humans and wildlife. We found some evidence that tolerance also depended on people's prior interactions with wildlife, their beliefs that they can mitigate conflicts with wildlife and their demographic characteristics.Our results suggest that communication that improves urban residents' attitudes towards wildlife and/or reinforces positive emotions towards wildlife may increase wildlife tolerance in urban areas. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Conservation Biology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The exotic pet trade has resulted in substantial invasion and disease risks, owing to the release of pets into new environments. Scientists have conjectured that pet owners acquire and release species with undesir- able traits because they are imperfectly informed about the traits of these animals. However, few studies have used social science methods to elicit pet owners' preferences for exotic pets. In 2019 we adminis- tered a best-worst choice survey to 1,055 exotic pet owners in the United States (who own pet reptiles, amphibians, fish, or invertebrates) to examine how human preferences and incomplete information may contribute to the risks of the exotic pet trade. Respondents preferred colorful and patterned species. On average, respondents preferred medium-sized amphibians and reptiles, small fish, and large invertebrates, although they demonstrated heterogeneity in preferences with respect to the adult size of pets. Respondents also preferred amphibians and reptiles with medium life expectancies and fish and invertebrates with long life expectancies, although they again demonstrated heterogeneity in preferences with respect to pets' life span. Respondents preferred docile animals, and were more likely to purchase lower-cost pets. We found some evidence that respondents' decision to purchase exotic pets depended on whether these animals were native, rare, had unusual morphological features, and breed easily. Respondents' decision to purchase specific taxa as exotic pets also depended on their age, education, and housing. Most respondents stated that they searched for information on pets' diet, behavior, adult size, life span, costs of care such as equipment or veterinary costs, and whether the animal was captive bred before purchasing these animals. Excepting pets' diets, fewer than half of respondents had been offered information on pets' traits by sellers. On average, respondents rated the information they had been offered as average. Respondents typically obtained additional information about pets from online searches. Our results suggest that certification systems that provide critical information on exotic pets' behaviors, adult size, longevity, fecundity, and husbandry needs should be implemented to prevent pet owners acquiring animals that they may subsequently abandon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mitigating human–wildlife conflicts by altering human behaviors is critical to urban wildlife conservation. We investigated what actions urban residents are willing to take to mitigate human–wildlife conflicts in metropolitan Atlanta, one of the fastest growing metropolises in the United States (~6.1 million people, 21,690 km2). In 2022, we administered online surveys to 1006 residents of metropolitan Atlanta to determine which measures they had adopted to mitigate conflicts with urban wildlife, elicit their stated willingness to adopt additional conflict mitigation measures, and identify determinants of current or potential implementation of mitigation measures. Respondents most frequently reported watching urban wildlife (63.0% of respondents). The most frequently reported conflicts were wildlife raiding trash cans (14.8%) and damaging landscaping (20.8%). In total, 342 respondents (34.0%) had not taken any action to mitigate conflicts with wildlife. Respondents who had taken action to prevent conflicts most often secured their trash by keeping cans indoors or locking the lid of the can (28.7%), kept pets (20.5%) and pet food (20.3%) indoors, and took trash out on the morning of collection (19.6%). Respondents who had not adopted conflict mitigation measures stated that they were likely to secure their trash or keep pets and pet food indoors if they considered these measures to be necessary. Prior conflicts with wildlife influenced both respondents' current efforts to mitigate conflicts with wildlife, and their stated willingness to adopt additional measures to mitigate human–wildlife conflicts. Risk sensitivity to zoonotic pathogen transmission increased both actual and intended adoption of conflict mitigation measures. Respondents' self‐efficacy, beliefs about wildlife, and age also influenced their willingness to adopt conflict mitigation measures. Our results suggest that education and outreach about the need for conflict mitigation measures should highlight the importance and effectiveness of these measures in conserving wildlife, while also securing the well‐being of humans and pets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Management of invasive alien species (IAS) depends on public awareness and cooperation, which may be increased by effective IAS education by zoos. We administered a questionnaire to visitors (n = 221) and educators (n = 44) at three Association of Zoos and Aquariums facilities in Florida to explore their perceptions of the content and effectiveness of IAS education at these facilities. Most visitors recalled seeing IAS on display, with 80% of visitors stating that they considered zoos to be a place to learn about IAS. Both visitors and educators agreed that minimal information on how IAS are introduced to Florida was presented. They also agreed that greater implementation of shows and presentations pertaining to IAS would be highly effective in educating the public about IAS and the need for actions to mitigate species invasions. Zoos may improve their educational effectiveness by making visitors aware of IAS citizen science programs and implementing interactive educational methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Private landowners who operate multifunctional landscapes play a critical role in the conservation of native and imperiled species, and the restoration of native ecosystems. In the southeastern United States, both northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) and pine savanna ecosystems are imperiled and heavily reliant on conservation efforts by private landowners. Engaging private landowners in the restoration and management of pine savannas and grasslands is essential to the recovery of northern bobwhite, which is also managed as a game species. Since the early 1900s, the cultural tradition of wild bobwhite hunting has motivated landowners to manage their properties to increase bobwhite populations. However, the costs and revenues associated with intensive wild bobwhite management and hunting are imperfectly understood. From May 2021 to February 2022, we conducted semistructured interviews with landowners and land managers of 37 wild bobwhite hunting properties (total of 65,317 ha in bobwhite management) in Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina to enumerate the costs and revenues associated with intensive wild bobwhite management. Landowners spent an average of $154/acre/year (~$381/ha/year; median of $142/acre/year or ~$352/ha/year) to manage for northern bobwhite. These costs included salaries and benefits for labor, depreciated equipment and infrastructure expenditures, and other supplies (e.g., fuel, seed) needed to maintain wild bobwhite populations and their habitat. Few properties offset their bobwhite management costs with revenues generated on the property, including hunting revenues. Non‐financial motivations for owning a bobwhite property included a strong land stewardship ethic, the desire to maintain rural lifestyles and family heritage, and securing hunting and recreational opportunities. Through wild quail management, private landowners are helping to secure critical habitat for threatened and endangered species and increasing the landscape's overall resilience to climate change without the use of public funding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efforts to promote human‐wildlife coexistence may be overly focused on wildlife‐related costs and benefits. We conducted research in Mozambique to gain insights into how governance of wildlife influences potential for human‐wildlife coexistence. Mozambique is an under‐studied region with a unique history of Portuguese rule, extended civil unrest, substantial wildlife trafficking, and current re‐wilding efforts. We conducted surveys, logistic regression, and hotspot analysis to assess which variables are correlated with positive attitudes toward living with wildlife. Most respondents (61%) expressed positive attitudes toward living with wildlife. Attitudes were positively correlated with age, gender, distance from the park, wildlife benefits, restricted access to natural resources, and agreement with wildlife rules. Conflict with wildlife (i.e., livestock predation, human harm, and crop loss) were not significant predictors of attitudes. Respondents who agreed with the rules governing wildlife were 30‐times more likely to have positive attitudes. This new and important finding highlights the possibility that institutions that address environmental justice, including the devolution of wildlife to local communities, may be more salient than the conventional measures of costs and benefits for understanding human‐wildlife coexistence. Our results suggest that much more attention should be dedicated to the role of local institutions in promoting human‐wildlife coexistence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus 2 (RHDV2) is a highly contagious virus that primarily infects rabbits and hares (lagomorphs) and poses a serious threat to lagomorph populations and hunting. Wildlife agencies in the United States rely on hunters to report RHDV2‐related mortalities and engage in voluntary biosecurity actions to prevent the spread of RHDV2. From April 2021 to April 2022, we conducted a nationwide survey of 22,511 hunters to ascertain their willingness to engage in voluntary biosecurity actions and support government‐mandated biosecurity measures. Respondents expressed greatest willingness to report suspicious lagomorph deaths to wildlife agencies. Respondents' willingness to engage in or support biosecurity actions was positively correlated with their risk perceptions pertaining to lagomorph deaths and the economic impacts of RHDV2, perceptions of the importance of biosecurity, and trust in state agencies to manage RHDV2. We found evidence that respondents' willingness to engage in or support biosecurity actions was also positively correlated with their knowledge of RHDV2. Wildlife agencies should clearly communicate about RHDV2 and its adverse impacts on lagomorphs, biodiversity, and hunting to engage hunters in biosecurity measures. Hunters can provide valuable information about lagomorph population trends and mortality events in the areas they hunt, a cost‐effective method to augment agency surveillance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The expanding global trade in herpetofauna has contributed to new infectious disease dynamics and pathways that allow for the rapid spread of pathogens geographically. Improved biosecurity is needed to mitigate adverse biodiversity, economic and human health impacts associated with pathogen transmission through the herpetological trade. However, general lack of knowledge of the pathogen transmission risks associated with the global trade in herpetofauna and public opposition to biosecurity measures are critical obstacles to successfully preventing pathogen transmission. In 2019 we administered a survey to 2,007 members of the public in the United States of America to ascertain their support for interventions to prevent the spread of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal), ranaviruses, and Salmonella through the herpetological trade. We presented survey respondents with different potential hazards associated with pathogen transmission through this trade, namely ecological, economic, and human health impacts. We used structural equation models to determine how these different hazards and respondents' characteristics influenced respondents' support for quarantine and veterinary observation of herpetofauna imported into the United States, mandatory tests for diseases of concern, and best practices to reduce stress and improve the care of live herpetofauna during transport to the United States. Respondents' values and their perceived susceptibility and sensitivity to different hazards associated with pathogen transmission were key determinants of their support for biosecurity. Respondents with strong biospheric and altruistic values demonstrated sensitivity to ecological and human health impacts associated with pathogen transmission, whereas respondents with strong egoistic values demonstrated sensitivity to economic impacts. Respondents had limited knowledge of Bd, Bsal or ranaviruses, the size of the herpetological trade, or how this trade may contribute to pathogen transmission. Improved outreach and education on pathogen transmission through the herpetological trade is required, but it is important that messages are tailored to people with different values to elicit their support for biosecurity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

International demand for wood‐based biomass for bioenergy production is growing, and private forestlands in the southeastern United States have the potential to supply that demand. The southeastern United States (Southeast) is the world's largest exporter of wood pellets for bioenergy, primarily to the United Kingdom (UK) and the European Union (EU). However, wood‐based biomass production accounts for only a small share of total wood removals from private forestlands in the Southeast. There is sufficient wood‐based biomass in the Southeast to support greater production of wood pellets for domestic and international markets without redirecting timber from sawtimber and pulpwood production. In 2018–19, we conducted 39 semi‐structured interviews with private forest landowners, foresters, loggers, and biomass production facility managers in Alabama, Florida, and Georgia to obtain their views on wood‐based biomass production in the Southeast. Although landowners were interested in supplying wood for biomass as a byproduct of timber harvesting, they seldom participated in wood‐based biomass production because of limited and unreliable access to biomass markets. Loggers and production facility managers had not invested in biomass production because they remain skeptical about the financial viability of wood‐based biomass. Continued obstacles to biomass production include: price competition with fossil fuels and conventional wood products; inconsistent domestic government support for biomass production; concerns about meeting the sustainability requirements to export wood‐based biomass to the UK and EU; and the high costs associated with harvesting low‐grade wood for biomass. The barriers to biomass expansion in the southeastern United States remain primarily economic and political rather than biophysical. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although protected areas (PAs) have long been considered a successful conservation strategy, more recent research has highlighted their ecological and sociological limitations. The extant PA network is constrained by land availability and exacerbates cultural, political, and social conflicts over access to resources. Consequently, the importance of private lands in playing a complementary role in conservation is being widely recognized. Voluntary conservation programs that encourage private landowners to adopt biodiversity-friendly agricultural practices have emerged worldwide. Landowners' willingness to participate in these programs is critical to attaining landscape-level biodiversity conservation. We adopted a multidisciplinary approach, combining economic theory of rational choice and social choice theory to explain decision making. Using a stated preference choice experiment method, we examined the role of program design and influence of demographic, economic, and socio-psychological variables on landowners' willingness to enroll in voluntary, incentive-based agroforestry programs. In 2018-2019, we surveyed 602 landowners in the buffer area of Pench Tiger Reserve, India. Landowners' willingness to engage in agroforestry depended on the amount of land to be enrolled, program duration, and incentive amount. Landowners' socio-economic characteristics, attitudes, self-efficacy, and social norms also influenced their willingness to participate. On average, landowners required Rs. 66,000 (ca. $940 USD) per acre per year to modify their land use and adopt agroforestry. Our study demonstrates that integrating voluntary agroforestry programs into India's rural development policy may allow biodiversity conservation to be balanced with agricultural productivity in buffer areas surrounding PAs. We call for a new approach that recognizes farmers as stakeholders in conservation and in creating resilient landscapes that support biodiversity and preserve livelihoods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The environmental and socio-economic impacts of invasive species have long been recognised to be unequal, with some species being benign while others are disastrous. Until recently there was no recognised standard impact scoring framework with which to compare impacts of species from very different taxa. The advent of the Environmental Impact Classification for Alien Taxa (EICAT) and Socio-Economic Impact Classification of Alien Taxa (SEICAT) schemes allows for the possibility of assessing impact through a standard approach. However, both these schemes are still in their infancy and the associated costs of the research that informs them is unknown. We aimed to determine the study costs and complexity associated with assessing invasive species' socio-economic and environmental impacts. We used amphibians as a model group to investigate papers from which EICAT and SEICAT scores could be drawn up to 2019. Our analysis shows that studies that resulted in higher impact scores were more costly. Furthermore, the costs of studies were best predicted by their complexity and the time taken to complete them. If impact scores from EICAT and SEICAT are allowed to inform policy, then we need to carefully consider whether species with low scores represent true impact, or require more research investment and time. Policy makers needing accurate assessments will need to finance larger, more complex, and rigorous studies. Assessing impacts in low and middle income countries may need investment using international research collaborations and capacity building with scientists from high income areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Everglades is one of the largest wetland ecosystems in the world covering almost 18,000 square miles from central Florida southward to Florida Bay. Over the 20th century, efforts to drain the Everglades for agriculture and development severely damaged the ecosystem so that today roughly 50% of the historic flow of water through the Everglades has been diverted elsewhere. In an attempt to restore the Everglades, the U.S. Congress authorized the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) in 2000, expected to cost over $16 billion and to take several decades to complete. We used the results from a stated preference choice experiment (SPCE) survey of Florida households to estimate the willingness to pay for several ecological attributes related to CERP performance indicators likely to be impacted by Everglades restoration. We also used a latent class model (LCM) to explore preference heterogeneity among respondents. On average, survey respondents were willing to pay for improvements in all of the attributes included in the survey, namely increased populations of wading birds, American alligators, endangered snail kites, and spotted seatrout, and reduced polluted discharges from Lake Okeechobee to the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie rivers. Willingness to pay was highest for reduced polluted discharges from Lake Okeechobee. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

South Africa's private sector is vital to rhino conservation yet there is a lack of research into the attitudes of current and potential rhino owners towards rhino conservation and horn trade. We surveyed 169 members of the South African private wildlife ranching industry to examine these matters. We sought to understand: (1) ranchers' motivations for owning or not owning rhinos, (2) how rhino ownership affects ranchers' income and operations, and (3) the attitudes of wildlife industry members towards legalization of global rhino horn trade. Our findings indicate that all respondents recognize the risks of rhino ownership and tend to distrust national and provincial environmental departments. In addition to these concerns, rhino owners have substantial monthly security and management expenditures. We found positive attitudes overall towards global rhino horn trade. Rhino owners strongly agreed that legalization would benefit rhino owners and rhino conservation. Documenting the realities of private rhino ownership and the opinions of the wildlife industry is important for policy design and for informed debate about the legalization of the rhino horn trade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is growing recognition of the link between the non-native pet trade and the introduction and establishment of invasive species due to the release and escape of non-native pets. However, it is unclear whether participants in the pet trade recognize the magnitude of this invasion risk. Successful mitigation of the pet trade invasion risk requires stakeholder support for, and participation in, regulations. We conducted 29 interviews in Florida to investigate key stakeholders' opinions about the pet trade invasion risk and the effectiveness of potential regulations to mitigate this risk. Respondents framed the effectiveness of regulations in terms of their feasibility. Respondents also identified lack of trust and the existence of an adversarial relationship among stakeholder groups as major barriers to managing the pet trade invasion risk. Compliance with regulations may be improved if policy makers and managers utilize participatory decision-making to engage stakeholders in management of this risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With increased poaching pressures, rhinoceroses have become a financial liability due to expensive anti-poaching security costs required to protect this species. Nonetheless, approximately one-third of South Africa’s rhinoceros population is protected on private lands. In a time when the future existence of rhinoceroses is uncertain, it is important to determine (a) the considerations included in private sector decisions to participate in rhinoceros conservation and (b) how increased conservation of rhinoceroses on private lands may be attained. We conducted semi-structured interviews with private wildlife ranchers and reserve managers in South Africa to answer these questions. Respondents cataloged financial (e.g., security costs, tourism revenues) and nonfinancial (e.g., psychological stresses, emotional attachment) factors that influence their decisions to keep rhinoceroses on their lands. Despite significant costs of rhinoceros ownership, rhinoceros owners were willing to engage in conservation efforts because of the nonfinancial benefits they derive from protecting rhinoceroses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthropogenic food conditioning of bears has resulted in recent increases in human–bear conflicts (HBCs) in Florida. Garbage is the leading cause of food conditioning of bears. Despite increased HBCs and related human safety concerns, municipal governments in Florida have generally not taken independent steps to prevent HBCs through altered garbage management. Rather, governments have relied on the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to manage garbage-related HBCs. We used semi-structured interviews to identify obstacles to securing garbage from bears at the municipal level. Respondents included local government administrations and waste service providers. Political and economic costs of implementing bear-resistant garbage management practices were the major obstacles to securing garbage. Respondents argued that households will not pay for, or support, the implementation of bear-resistant trash cans. Recent adoption by four counties of ordinances requiring residents to secure their garbage from bears suggests that objections to adopting bear-resistant garbage management were overstated. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Golden Gate Estates (GGE), an exurban development in southwest Florida, is the site of the highest recorded number of conflicts between people and the Florida panther. We used qualitative data provided by 157 GGE residents and 19 nonresident stakeholders to investigate attitudes toward the panther, and appropriate measures to mitigate human–panther conflicts. Although a subset of GGE residents expressed some concerns about human safety risks associated with living with the panther, a higher share of residents viewed the panther positively. Residents and nonresident stakeholders agreed that GGE residents are responsible for securing their livestock against panthers. This point of agreement may improve adoption of appropriate practices to prevent human–panther conflicts. Outreach and education programs should reinforce expectations within the GGE community that residents are responsible for securing livestock against predators and adopting other conflict mitigation practices, as well as encouraging positive attitudes toward the panther. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The concept of community identity has often been employed to explain ways in which communities respond to agents that impact community well-being. Using a case study of the Florida cattlemen community, we examine how cattlemen understand and perceive regulatory efforts to recover the Florida panther on private ranch lands. The data comes from participants in the Florida cattlemen community, and was collected through in-depth interviews (n = 13), group interviews (n = 32), and written comments associated with a survey about panther conservation (n = 78). Our findings indicate that some cattlemen in Florida have a strong sense of community identity. Perceptions of government actions and variation in economic risks are critical factors in understanding how this community responds to federal interventions. Our findings suggest that the concept of community identity can be used to explain the responses of agricultural landowners to governmental policies that are perceived as a threat to collective identity. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Highlights • PES schemes are used to conserve natural ecosystems and improve human livelihoods. • Understanding temporal and spatial enrollment patterns in PES is key. • This can improve conservation of threatened ecosystems for long time periods. • We present a large-scale PES program that attracts high conversion threat lands. • But enrollment of these lands was shorter than lands with lower conversion threat. • Both temporal and spatial dimensions of PES enrollment are key for informing policy. Abstract Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) programs are increasingly emphasized to address challenges of conserving forests. However, concerns remain regarding the ability of PES programs to ensure long-term conservation of threatened lands. Evaluation of large-scale PES programs, including the spatial and temporal patterns of enrollment, is scarce, especially for programs that aim to protect forest from severe threats such as expansion of industrial agriculture. Using information on PES enrollment across 252,319 km2 in the Argentine Chaco, we examined both the duration for which lands are enrolled in PES and their suitability for agriculture. Specifically, we examined whether the PES program has resulted in adverse selection not only in space but also in time. We built spatially explicit generalized linear models using information on participants' length of contract and the potential of their land for agricultural use. We found the PES program enrolled land in areas with high agricultural potential, but enrollment of these lands occurred for shorter time periods than lands with lower levels of threat from deforestation. Consequently, adverse selection occurred over time but not in space. Our work demonstrates the importance of evaluating both temporal and spatial dimensions of adverse selection in PES for informing policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]