@article{casola_peterson_pacifici_sills_moorman_2023, title={Conservation motivations and willingness to pay for wildlife management areas among recreational user groups}, volume={132}, ISSN={["1873-5754"]}, DOI={10.1016/j.landusepol.2023.106801}, abstractNote={Conservation agencies routinely evaluate the costs and benefits of land management and land acquisition options for wildlife management areas (WMAs). Non-market values, for example visitors’ consumer surplus, are often absent from these comparisons. Better estimates of willingness to pay (WTP) for WMAs will allow managers to quantify consumer surpluses for different user groups, identify opportunities to generate additional conservation funding, and improve communication with users. We used the contingent valuation method to estimate the WTP for conservation of WMAs by different user groups. We used interval censored regression to estimate WTP for each user group and modeled how WTP varied with visitation frequency, demographics, and type of use. Dual users, those who participated in both licensed (hunting, angling, or trapping) and non-licensed (all other) activities, had greater WTP ($200.07, 95% CI [$161.18, $238.95]) than users who exclusively participated in either a single non-licensed ($74.74, 95% CI [$50.45, $99.02]) or a single licensed activity ($68.21, 95% CI [$48.41, $88.00]). Willingness-to-pay increased with the number of visits to WMAs per year, college education, and income. The most popular donation motivations were that respondents cared about WMA conservation (72%), wanted WMAs to be around for future generations (70%) and personally benefited from the conservation of WMAs (64%). Similar to a scope test, this study demonstrated greater WTP by users who participate in more diverse recreation types on WMAs. Additionally, our findings show that WMA users, particularly users who engage in multiple activities including at least one that does not require a license, enjoy large consumer surpluses and thus could be drawn on for additional financial support for WMA conservation.}, journal={LAND USE POLICY}, author={Casola, William R. and Peterson, M. Nils and Pacifici, Krishna and Sills, Erin O. and Moorman, Christopher E.}, year={2023}, month={Sep} }
 @article{casola_desrochers_peterson_2023, title={Evaluating the false consensus effect in private landowner perceptions of hunting}, ISSN={["1533-158X"]}, DOI={10.1080/10871209.2023.2247411}, abstractNote={Click to increase image sizeClick to decrease image size AcknowledgmentsNorth Carolina State University, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, and the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program funded this research. We thank the private landowners of North Carolina that took the time to complete our survey. We appreciate the numerous people that helped implement the survey, including C. Burke, M. Drake, M. McAllister, R. Valdez, and A. Fish. We also thank the anonymous reviewers for their feedback and contributions to this manuscript.Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Additional informationFundingThis work was supported by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.}, journal={HUMAN DIMENSIONS OF WILDLIFE}, author={Casola, William R. and Desrochers, Hannah M. and Peterson, M. Nils}, year={2023}, month={Aug} }
 @article{casola_rehnberg_peterson_blake_thorne_langerhans_2022, title={Drivers of long-term support for marine protected areas in The Bahamas}, volume={217}, ISSN={["1873-524X"]}, DOI={10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2021.106000}, abstractNote={Marine protected areas (MPAs) are a critical tool for fisheries conservation and require public support to function effectively. Although much research highlights ways to develop public support for MPAs, less is known about how and why support for MPAs persists over time. We contribute to this literature with a case study on Andros, The Bahamas by examining how support for MPAs established in the early 2000s has persisted and changed over two decades. We interviewed 162 residents with fisheries and tourism related livelihoods between May and June of 2019. Our results indicated long-term support for MPAs was primarily predicted by: 1) access to alternative sources of income outside fishing, 2) attendance at MPA scoping meetings, 3) age, and 4) level of formal education. Support for future MPA establishment was positively predicted by support for previous MPAs, concern about overfishing, the perception among residents that MPAs were established for the right reasons, and residence within tourism-associated settlements. These results suggest public engagement in MPA establishment and preserving fishing livelihoods, or providing viable alternatives, will promote long-term public support for future MPAs.}, journal={OCEAN & COASTAL MANAGEMENT}, author={Casola, William R. and Rehnberg, Mike and Peterson, M. Nils and Blake, Kristen and Thorne, Tyana and Langerhans, R. Brain}, year={2022}, month={Feb} }
 @article{casola_peterson_sills_pacifici_moorman_2022, title={Economic contributions of wildlife management areas in North Carolina}, volume={140}, ISSN={["1872-7050"]}, DOI={10.1016/j.forpol.2022.102747}, abstractNote={Wildlife management areas (WMAs) provide a wide range of ecosystem services. Among these services, hunting and fishing often make the most obvious contribution to local and state economies through the expenditures of the hunters and anglers. However, the total economic contributions of WMAs also include other forms of recreation that are generally less visible, unlicensed, and less well understood. Quantifying the size of the economic contribution from all recreationists can inform decisions about investment in and management of public lands. To this end, we estimated the direct, indirect, and induced economic contributions of recreation on protected land managed by the state of North Carolina (NC) primarily for hunting, fishing, and wildlife conservation (hereafter WMAs). We collected data on visitation and conducted in-person intercept surveys at 9 WMAs to estimate the number of visits and expenditures per visit for people engaged in activities that required licenses (e.g., hunting) and activities that did not (e.g., hiking and bird watching). We estimated annual visitation on the 9 study WMAs, accounting for differences in location, hunting season, day of the week, and weather. We then predicted annual visitation at all 94 WMAs in NC using a predictive regression model. Most visitors did not engage in any licensed activities, and those visitors spent more per trip on average ($119.83) and had greater variability in expenses than visitors engaged in licensed activities ($84.19). We used the estimates of total annual visits, expenditures per visit, and the distribution of those expenditures across sectors to calculate the economic contribution of recreation on each of the 9 study WMAs and on the entire WMA system in NC. Recreation was responsible for approximately 2200 jobs, $84 million USD in annual labor income, and $140 million USD in value added annually in NC. The majority of this contribution was due to visits made by users not engage in licensed uses of WMAs, as those users were more numerous, spent more per trip, and were more likely to visit WMAs in peri-urban areas with more economic linkages than rural areas.}, journal={FOREST POLICY AND ECONOMICS}, author={Casola, William R. and Peterson, M. Nils and Sills, Erin O. and Pacifici, Krishna and Moorman, Christopher E.}, year={2022}, month={Jul} }
 @article{casola_beall_peterson_larson_price_2022, title={Influence of social media on fear of sharks, perceptions of intentionality associated with shark bites, and shark management preferences}, volume={7}, ISSN={["2297-900X"]}, DOI={10.3389/fcomm.2022.1033347}, abstractNote={Sharks, a critical component of marine ecosystems, represent one of the most threatened taxa globally. Shark conservation efforts are constrained by public fear and misperceptions. Positive social media-based outreach may provide one cost effective means to reduce fear of sharks and change misperceptions about shark bite intentionality. Using framing theory, which suggests that the ways in which information is presented influences how it is processed and the changes in perceptions that result from it, we experimentally evaluated impacts of positively and negatively framed YouTube videos on fear of sharks and perceptions of shark bite intentionality among participants from the coastal state of North Carolina (NC), USA in Spring 2020. Respondents took a pre-test, followed by a randomly assigned positive or negative video treatment consisting of ~15 min of shark week videos. Pre/post-test comparisons suggest positive YouTube content decreased fright by 24%, perceived danger by 27%, and perception of shark bite intentionality by 29%, whereas negatively framed media did the opposite. Positively framed media resulted in fewer respondents blaming shark bites on sharks, and resulted in more respondents blaming swimmers or no one. Positively framed media decreased support for lethal responses to shark bites, such as shark nets, hunting down sharks that bite people, and drum lines. The positive treatment increased support for responding with research, leaving the shark alone, and education. Negatively framed media decreased support for responding by leaving the shark alone or doing nothing and increased support for some lethal responses to shark bites (i.e., drum lines and hunting down sharks). When positive and negative treatments had different effect sizes, the positive treatments tended to be more impactful. Collectively these results suggest social media may be a valuable tool for leveraging the power of communication to promote shark conservation.}, journal={FRONTIERS IN COMMUNICATION}, author={Casola, William R. and Beall, Justin M. and Peterson, M. Nils and Larson, Lincoln R. and Price, Carol S.}, year={2022}, month={Oct} }
 @article{casola_beall_nils peterson_larson_brent jackson_stevenson_2022, title={Political polarization of conservation issues in the era of COVID-19: An examination of partisan perspectives and priorities in the United States}, volume={67}, ISSN={1617-1381}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jnc.2022.126176}, DOI={10.1016/j.jnc.2022.126176}, abstractNote={As a zoonotic disease with unprecedented global impacts, COVID-19 may influence how people prioritize issues related to wildlife conservation. Using a nationally representative sample of US residents, we investigated: (1) how COVID-19 affected the relative importance of conservation issues among adults with different political ideologies, and (2) how the pandemic affected political polarization of conservation issues during the 2020 general election in the United States. Conservation issues such as endangered species and controlling zoonotic disease ranked low in importance among the 14 policy issues considered, even lower than environmental issues such as climate change and environmental protection; however, the importance of all conservation issues increased as a result of COVID-19. Political polarization surrounding the perceived importance of conservation issues also increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, with Democrats reporting larger increases in importance than Republicans. Polarization was driven by the most conservative Republicans and the most liberal Democrats. But this polarization was less extreme than it was for other issues such as climate change and healthcare. Findings highlight the need for communicating links between zoonotic disease and human interactions with wildlife and the environment. Acting quickly may be critical in areas where conservation issues are primed to succumb to political polarization.}, journal={Journal for Nature Conservation}, publisher={Elsevier BV}, author={Casola, William R. and Beall, Justin M. and Nils Peterson, M. and Larson, Lincoln R. and Brent Jackson, S. and Stevenson, Kathryn T.}, year={2022}, month={Jun}, pages={126176} }
 @article{beall_jackson_casola_peterson_larson_stevenson_seekamp_2022, title={Self-reported participation in outdoor and nature-based recreation before and during the COVID-19 pandemic supports psychological health and well-being}, volume={3}, ISSN={2666-5581}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.wss.2022.100094}, DOI={10.1016/j.wss.2022.100094}, abstractNote={Restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic significantly altered daily lives and affected human health and well-being. Outdoor and nature-based activities could potentially mitigate some of these negative impacts. To assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on outdoor recreation and subjective well-being, we combined two samples of U.S. adults collected from April 30th - June 15th, 2020 and from August 7th - August 26th, 2020 (total n = 2178) using Qualtrics XM. During the pandemic, participation in outdoor activities declined by 35%, participation in nature-based activities declined by 33%, and subjective well-being declined by 24%. Participation in outdoor activities and nature activities prior to the pandemic and during the pandemic predicted smaller declines in subjective well-being. Results highlight the importance of outdoor recreation for building resilience to changes in subjective well-being before and during global crises like the COVID-19 pandemic.}, journal={Wellbeing, Space and Society}, publisher={Elsevier BV}, author={Beall, Justin M. and Jackson, S. Brent and Casola, William R. and Peterson, M. Nils and Larson, Lincoln R. and Stevenson, Kathryn T. and Seekamp, Erin}, year={2022}, pages={100094} }
 @article{beall_pharr_von furstenberg_barber_casola_vaughn_peterson_larson_2022, title={The influence of YouTube videos on human tolerance of sharks}, volume={7}, ISSN={1367-9430 1469-1795}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/acv.12808}, DOI={10.1111/acv.12808}, abstractNote={Abstract}, journal={Animal Conservation}, publisher={Wiley}, author={Beall, J. M. and Pharr, L. D. and von Furstenberg, R. and Barber, A. and Casola, W. R. and Vaughn, A. and Peterson, M. N. and Larson, L. R.}, year={2022}, month={Jul} }
 @article{beall_casola_peterson_larson_carr_seekamp_stevenson_jackson_2021, title={Cultural Cognition and Ideological Framing Influence Communication About Zoonotic Disease in the Era of COVID-19}, volume={6}, ISSN={2297-900X}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fcomm.2021.645692}, DOI={10.3389/fcomm.2021.645692}, abstractNote={The efficacy of science communication can be influenced by the cultural values and cognitions of target audiences, yet message framing rarely accounts for these cognitive factors. To explore the effects of message framing tailored to specific audiences, we investigated relationships between one form of cultural cognition—political ideology—and perceptions about the zoonotic origins of the COVID-19 pandemic using a nationally representative Qualtrics XM panel (n = 1,554) during August 2020. First, we examined differences in attitudes towards science (in general) and COVID-19 (specifically) based on political ideology. We found that, compared to conservatives and moderates, liberals trusted science more, were less skeptical of science, perceived greater risk from COVID-19, were more likely to believe in a wildlife origin of COVID-19, and were more likely to support restrictions on wildlife trade. Second, we examined the influence of cultural framing on the perceived validity of science related to COVID-19. Respondents were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups: 1) a technocratic framing that highlighted feats of human ingenuity to overcome zoonoses; 2) a regulatory framing that highlighted regulations and expansions of protected areas for wildlife as a means to prevent zoonoses, and 3) a control article about traffic lights with no cultural framing. After reading the initial framing article, all three groups read the same fictional, yet factually accurate, ‘Nature Science study’ generated by the authors. An OLS regression model revealed a significant interaction between the technocratic framing and political ideology. Relative to the control group, the technocratic framing slightly increased perceived validity of the Nature Science study for conservatives, significantly lowered perceived validity for liberals, and had no impact on moderates. We did not detect any significant interaction between framing and political ideology for the regulatory framing. Findings of this study highlight the need to account for cultural cognitions when communicating about COVID-19 and other zoonotic diseases. Communication strategies carefully designed to resonate with ideologically diverse audiences may ultimately lead to bipartisan support for actions required to promote “One Health” approaches that reduce the impacts of zoonoses on human and environmental health.}, journal={Frontiers in Communication}, publisher={Frontiers Media SA}, author={Beall, Justin M. and Casola, William R. and Peterson, M Nils. and Larson, Lincoln R. and Carr, Wylie A. and Seekamp, Erin and Stevenson, Kathryn T. and Jackson, S Brent}, year={2021}, month={May} }
 @article{casola_peterson_wu_sills_pease_pacifici_2021, title={Measuring the value of public hunting land using a hedonic approach}, volume={8}, ISSN={["1533-158X"]}, DOI={10.1080/10871209.2021.1953196}, abstractNote={ABSTRACT Acquisition of public land is critical for wildlife conservation and can impact local tax bases and property values. Those impacts reflect the capitalized value of benefits (e.g., recreational opportunities) and costs (e.g., nuisance wildlife) of living near protected areas. We employed the hedonic price framework to determine how proximity and adjacency to public hunting land in North Carolina were capitalized into housing prices. We modeled sale price as the composite value of structural, neighborhood, and environmental characteristics. Proximity to public hunting land had positive effects on sale price in some locations, whereas adjacency had negative effects in some locations. These relationships were dependent on the sociocultural context of the public hunting land, including proximity to other forms of public land. This research may help facilitate negotiations among stakeholders impacted by protected areas, including land dedicated to wildlife-based recreation.}, journal={HUMAN DIMENSIONS OF WILDLIFE}, author={Casola, William R. and Peterson, M. Nils and Wu, Yu and Sills, Erin O. and Pease, Brent S. and Pacifici, Krishna}, year={2021}, month={Aug} }
 @article{casola_oren_register_littlejohn_peterson_langerhans_2021, title={Modernization of artisanal fishing communities on Andros Island, The Bahamas, as a treadmill of production}, volume={201}, ISSN={["1873-524X"]}, DOI={10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2020.105487}, abstractNote={Globalization and modernization have driven drastic changes in communities dependent on natural resources. Yet the impacts on resources and local well-being vary widely, with positive outcomes often linked to ecological modernization theory and negative outcomes often linked to treadmill of production theory. We contribute to this literature with a qualitative case study of Bahamian fishing communities which underwent rapid modernization during the latter half of the 20th century. We interviewed 31 fishers on Andros Island, ranging from 49 to 90 years in age, about how they experienced modernization. Participants identified consequences of modernization consistent with treadmill of production theory, including economic system restructuring, introduction of new technologies, increased market demand for natural resources, environmental degradation, and a struggle to maintain quality of life. They identified international tourism, market demands for fish, and employment opportunities outside the island as primary drivers of change and expressed both positive and negative attitudes towards the consequences of modernization. Local fishers described modernization as incorporating elements of world systems theory and telecoupling, including 1) the economic expansion of the country's capital and most densely populated city, Nassau, coming at the environmental and economic expense of Andros, and 2) the introduction of diving as a key fishing method based on practices adapted from international tourists. Participant's accounts of modernization were not consistent with ecological modernization theory but may reflect some elements of this theory in the future in association with the rapid expansion of higher education opportunities on Bahamian “family islands.”}, journal={OCEAN & COASTAL MANAGEMENT}, author={Casola, William R. and Oren, Jenny and Register, Morgan L. and Littlejohn, Jackson and Peterson, M. Nils and Langerhans, R. Brian}, year={2021}, month={Feb} }
 @article{casola_peterson_pacifici_moorman_2021, title={Public support and visitation impacts of Sunday hunting on public hunting lands}, volume={26}, ISSN={["1533-158X"]}, DOI={10.1080/10871209.2020.1811923}, abstractNote={Sunday hunting legislation is complex, and often controversial, resulting in recreation impacts for both traditional (hunters, anglers, trappers) and non-traditional (e.g., hikers, birders, bikers,...}, number={1}, journal={HUMAN DIMENSIONS OF WILDLIFE}, author={Casola, William R. and Peterson, M. Nils and Pacifici, Krishna and Moorman, Christopher E.}, year={2021}, month={Jan}, pages={94–97} }
 @article{vaughn_peterson_casola_stevenson_pacifici_2021, title={Using the Implicit Association Test to Evaluate Subconscious Attitudes Toward Snakes}, volume={10}, ISSN={["1753-0377"]}, DOI={10.1080/08927936.2021.1986261}, abstractNote={ABSTRACT
 Human fear and antipathy toward snakes make conservation and management of these species difficult, as negative attitudes are not generally linked to public support. However, our understanding of whether such attitudes are innate or learned is limited. In this study, respondents aged 7–76 years completed an implicit association test (IAT) designed to examine implicit attitudes toward snakes (n = 175). Respondents had negative implicit attitudes toward snakes. Parents had more negative implicit attitudes toward snakes than children, but we detected no effects for sex or race/ethnicity, and the overall ability for demographic variables to predict implicit attitudes was low (R2  = 0.035). Approximately, 13% of the overall variance was explained by the random effect for family unit (ρ = 0.132), indicating membership within a given household unit had small effects on the development of implicit biases against snakes. Collectively, these results support the hypothesis that human aversion to snakes is implicit and provide more evidence that aversion may be innate within our biological or cultural memory. Implicit bias training may be critical to mitigate the effects of negative implicit attitudes toward snakes. Although future research is needed to understand socio-demographic correlates of implicit biases against snakes, our results suggest interventions may be crafted without concern about unique responses to snakes across sex and ethnicities.}, journal={ANTHROZOOS}, author={Vaughn, Audrey K. and Peterson, M. Nils and Casola, William R. and Stevenson, Kathryn T. and Pacifici, Lara B.}, year={2021}, month={Oct} }