Environmental Studies Department, University of California, Santa Cruz, 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064, U.S.A..
Conserv Biol. 2013 Dec;27(6):1449-57. doi: 10.1111/cobi.12117. Epub 2013 Jul 21.
Recreation is a leading cause of species decline on public lands, yet sometimes it can be used as a tool for conservation. Engagement in recreational activities, such as hiking and biking, in endangered species habitats may even enhance public support for conservation efforts. We used the case of the endangered Ohlone tiger beetle (Cicindela ohlone) to investigate the effect of biking and hiking on the beetle's behavior and the role of recreationists' knowledge of and attitudes toward Ohlone tiger beetle in conservation of the species. In Inclusion Area A on the University of California Santa Cruz (U.S.A.) campus, adult Ohlone tiger beetles mate and forage in areas with bare ground, particularly on recreational trails; however, recreation disrupts these activities. We tested the effect of recreation on Ohlone tiger beetles by observing beetle behavior on trails as people walked and road bikes at slow and fast speed and on trails with no recreation. We also surveyed recreationists to investigate how their knowledge of the beetle affected their attitudes toward conservation of the beetle and stated compliance with regulations aimed at beetle conservation. Fast cycling caused the beetles to fly off the trail more often and to fly farther than slow cycling or hiking. Slow cycling and hiking did not differ in their effect on the number of times and distance the beetles flew off the trail. Recreationists' knowledge of the beetle led to increased stated compliance with regulations, and this stated compliance is likely to have tangible conservation outcomes for the beetle. Our results suggest management and education can mitigate the negative effect of recreation and promote conservation of endangered species. Efectos del Conocimiento de una Especie en Peligro sobre las Actitudes y Comportamientos Declarados de los Recreacionistas y el Significado del Manejo de la Conformidad para la Conservación del Escarabajo Tigre de Ohlone.
休闲娱乐是导致公共土地物种减少的主要原因之一，但有时它也可以被用作保护的工具。在濒危物种栖息地进行休闲活动，如徒步旅行和骑自行车，甚至可以增强公众对保护工作的支持。我们以濒危的奥龙虎甲虫（Cicindela ohlone）为例，调查了骑行和徒步旅行对甲虫行为的影响，以及休闲者对奥龙虎甲虫的了解和态度在保护物种方面的作用。在加利福尼亚大学圣克鲁兹分校（美国）校园的包容区 A，成年奥龙虎甲虫在有裸地的地方交配和觅食，特别是在休闲小径上；然而，休闲活动会扰乱这些活动。我们通过观察人们在慢速和快速骑行以及无休闲活动的小径上行走和骑行时甲虫的行为，测试了休闲活动对奥龙虎甲虫的影响。我们还调查了休闲者，以了解他们对甲虫的了解如何影响他们对保护甲虫的态度，并表明遵守旨在保护甲虫的法规的意愿。快速骑行导致甲虫从小径上飞走的次数和距离比慢速骑行或徒步旅行更远。慢速骑行和徒步旅行对甲虫从小径上飞走的次数和距离没有不同的影响。休闲者对甲虫的了解导致对法规的遵守意愿增加，这种遵守意愿可能对甲虫的保护产生切实的结果。我们的研究结果表明，管理和教育可以减轻休闲活动的负面影响，并促进濒危物种的保护。
