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Assessing Public Attitudes Towards Endangered Freshwater Mussels
Belyna Bentlage, Linda Prokopy Purdue University
Assessing Public Attitudes Towards Endangered Freshwater Mussels - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Assessing Public Attitudes Towards Endangered Freshwater Mussels - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Assessing Public Attitudes Towards Endangered Freshwater Mussels Belyna Bentlage, Linda Prokopy Purdue University Global Context Europe China MIDWEST India Africa Regional Imperilment > 50% mussel species federally or state listed
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Regional Imperilment
> 50% mussel species federally or state listed
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State by State
11 Missouri 10 Illinois, Ohio 5 Minnesota, Wisconsin 4 Michigan 3 Iowa
, Indiana
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Mussels in the Tippecanoe River
Snuffbox Rayed bean Sheepnose Clubshell Fanshell Rabbitsfoot
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Tippecanoe River
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Dams and Lakes
Lake Shafer Lake Freeman
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Accessibility
- Public Access Sites (PAS)
- Canoe Rentals
- Winamac City Park
- Tippecanoe River State Park
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Targeted Outreach
Effective outreach uses stakeholder
- attitudes
- behaviors
toward conservation object.
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Hypotheses
Attitudes
- Neutral to negative
- Low awareness
Behaviors
- Taking, throwing, killing
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Methods
Two Surveys
- In-Person
- Recreational Users
- Behaviors, Awareness
- Riparian Landowners
- Attitudes, Behaviors, and Values
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In-Person Survey Methods
5 PAS 2 Canoe Rentals Tippecanoe River State Park Winamac City Park
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395 responses
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In-Person Survey Results
Do you know what these animals are? 77% YES ….but
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Mixed Messages
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Mixed Messages
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Do you know what this is? GloGgloc
Disease??
“Baby mussels!”
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Awareness
Before this survey, had you heard anything about six endangered species of mussels in the Tippecanoe River?
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Legal or Illegal?
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In-Person Quotes
"I take 'em. They're just laying around up here."
"Sometimes I pull 'em...polish 'em up and put 'em on the mantel piece." “I don’t give a $@!%”
“I could give you a whole list of people who take them.”
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Mail Survey Results
POSITIVE NEUTRAL NEGATIVE
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Mail Survey Results
Before this survey, had you heard anything about six endangered species of mussels in the Tippecanoe River?
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Hypotheses Revisited
Attitudes
- Neutral to negative
- Low awareness
Behaviors
- Taking, throwing, killing
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Media Bias in Monticello
Lake Freeman Oakdale Dam
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"It's a contest between two opposing view-points."
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Future Directions
- Design and implement outreach campaign
- Evaluate effectiveness
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Thank you!
NRSS Lab
DNR Aquatic Non-Game Biologist: Brant Fisher Advisor: Linda Prokopy Post-Docs: Mike Dunn, Jessica Schad Undergraduates: Sophia Vela, Kiley Schofield, Dawn Braddock, Becca Busse Tippy-Canoe Rentals, Inc. and Hodges Canoe Trips Tippecanoe River State Park Winamac City Park