title: Effects of Outreach on the Prevention of Aquatic Invasive Species Spread among Organism-in-Trade Hobbyists.
abstract: Releases of aquatic organisms-in-trade by aquarists, water gardeners, and outdoor pond owners have been identified as aquatic invasive species vectors within the Laurentian Great Lakes region. The trademarked U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Habitattitude campaign was developed in 2004 to encourage self-regulation by these groups, but little is known about its effects. We surveyed organisms-in-trade hobbyists in the eight Great Lakes states (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, USA) to assess their recognition of the Habitattitude campaign and their compliance with the campaign's recommended behaviors for organism purchase and disposal. Awareness of the Habitattitude campaign was low, but hobbyists that identified as both water gardeners and aquarium hobbyists were more aware of the campaign than individuals who participated in one of those hobbies. Engaged hobbyists (high aquatic invasive species awareness, concern, and knowledge) were significantly more likely than passive hobbyists (low aquatic invasive species awareness, concern, and knowledge) to make decisions about disposal of live organisms with the intention of preventing aquatic invasive species spread, were more likely to contact other hobbyists for disposal and handling advice, and were less likely to contact professionals, such as retailers. On the basis of our results, we suggest that compliance with recommended behaviors may be increased by fostering hobbyist networks; creating materials that both explain tangible, negative environmental impacts and list specific prevention behaviors; and disseminating these materials through trusted information sources and venues.
authors: Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, College of Natural Resources, North Carolina State University, Campus Box 8004, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA. erin_seekamp@ncsu.edu.
authors: Erin
authors: 0000-0001-5082-1921
authors: E
authors: Seekamp
authors: Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, College of Natural Resources, North Carolina State University, Campus Box 8004, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA.
authors: Jessica E
authors: JE
authors: Mayer
authors: Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant, University of Illinois, Illinois Natural History Survey, Priarie Research Institute, c/o Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Rd, Glencoe, IL, 60022, USA.
authors: Patrice
authors: P
authors: Charlebois
authors: Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant, University of Illinois, Illinois Natural History Survey, Priarie Research Institute, c/o Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Rd, Glencoe, IL, 60022, USA.
authors: Greg
authors: G
authors: Hitzroth
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D059001:Aquatic Organisms / Q000254:growth & development*; D001290:Attitude; D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D005399:Fishes / Q000254:growth & development; D006114:Great Lakes Region; D006686:Hobbies / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007087:Illinois; D007196:Indiana; D058865:Introduced Species / Q000639:trends*; D008824:Michigan; D008910:Minnesota; D009518:New York; D009820:Ohio; D010414:Pennsylvania; D014481:United States; D014922:Wisconsin
keywords: Environmental awareness; Environmental behavior; Environmental concern; Environmental education