@article{chock_bessa_arteaga-torres_baker_buchholz_clucas_nunez_pinho_schulte_blumstein_et al._2025, title={Balancing ecotourism and wildlife management through a conservation behavior approach}, ISSN={["2578-4854"]}, DOI={10.1111/csp2.13306}, abstractNote={Abstract Ecotourism promises to reconcile wildlife conservation and human development if negative impacts of human visitation and associated infrastructure can be minimized. Animal behavior studies can be used to identify individual and population responses to anthropogenic impacts before other fitness consequences are documented. With input from professionals in animal behavior and ecotourism, we identified key questions needed to better understand the impact of ecotourism on wildlife. Activity budgets, foraging, movement, stress, habituation, and reproduction were themes that emerged from our survey. We highlight promising research on these themes and identify remaining behavioral research questions about conserving wildlife in the context of ecotourism. Although ecotourism activities often have detrimental effects on animal behavior, we highlight research needs that can inform management and ecotourist education to improve human behavior to be more compatible with sustainable use of nature.}, journal={CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE}, author={Chock, Rachel Y. and Bessa, Eduardo and Arteaga-Torres, Josue David and Baker, Liv and Buchholz, Richard and Clucas, Barbara and Nunez, Cassandra and Pinho, Gabriela M. and Schulte, Bruce A. and Blumstein, Daniel T. and et al.}, year={2025}, month={Feb} }
 @article{von hagen_gray_schulte_githiru_kiute_lepczyk_2024, title={Participatory modelling across Kenyan villages facilitates insights into the complexity of human-elephant interactions}, ISSN={["1365-3008"]}, DOI={10.1017/S0030605324000449}, abstractNote={Abstract Negative human–wildlife interactions are a growing problem, particularly for people living near protected areas and wildlife refuges. In Kenya, African savannah elephants Loxodonta africana threaten food security for subsistence farmers by crop foraging, which can jeopardize conservation efforts if farmers retaliate against elephants. To inform conservation and management, this study had three objectives: (1) to evaluate stakeholder participatory models of human–elephant conflict; (2) to note any novel or underrepresented variables in the models; and (3) to determine if there were indicators for assessing the success of mitigation programmes using a biocultural approach. We conducted participatory modelling sessions in six villages in rural Kenya using fuzzy cognitive mapping (n = 206 participants). Farmers created group visual models with variables related to conflict with elephants. A total of 14 variables were common across all six villages, with the two highest centrality scores (a measure of importance to overall dynamics) associated with income and feelings of security. Most variables fell into two categories: environmental interactions, and policy and management. Multiple variables such as road infrastructure (drivers) and soil compaction (consequences) were identified as aspects of conflicts that are under-reported or absent in scientific literature, as well as potential socio-cultural indicators. The participatory method used is a tool for gaining more refined insights into interactions with elephants, with implications for other complex conservation issues or wildlife interactions. A more holistic view of the impacts of human–elephant interactions as demonstrated here can lead to sustainable, co-developed programmes that benefit both farmer livelihoods and elephant conservation.}, journal={ORYX}, author={Von Hagen, Lynn and Gray, Steven A. and Schulte, Bruce A. and Githiru, Mwangi and Kiute, Helena I. and Lepczyk, Christopher A.}, year={2024}, month={Dec} }