scholarly journals Observing COVID-19 related behaviors in a high visitor use area of Arches National Park

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. e0247315
Author(s):  
Zachary D. Miller ◽  
Wayne Freimund ◽  
Douglas Dalenberg ◽  
Madison Vega
Keyword(s):  
Group Size ◽  
National Park ◽  
Physical Space ◽  
Cdc Guidelines ◽  
National Public Health ◽  
Public Health Officials ◽  
Visitor Use ◽  
Common Group ◽  
Intergroup Encounters ◽  
Visitor Center

Introduction Visitation to parks and protected areas is a common COVID-19 coping strategy promoted by state and national public health officials and political leadership. Crowding and congestions in parks has been a perennial problem and the ability to socially distance within them is an unproven assumption. Is it possible to socially distance in a busy national park that has been designed to concentrate use? Methodology/Principal findings An observational study was conducted in July 2020 at the outside foyer of the Visitor Center of Arches National Park. Motion sensor cameras were placed to record one-minute videos when a person entered the field of view. Number of groups, group size, facial coverings and encounters within 6 feet (1.83 meters) of other groups were recorded. Groups were smaller on average than recorded in previous studies. Approximately 61% of the visitors wore masks. Most groups (69%) were able to experience the visitor center with no intergroup encounters. We model the probability of intergroup encounters and find as group size and number of groups increases, the probability of encounters rises. With four groups present, the probability of one or more encounters ranges from 19% to 40% for common group sizes, while if eight groups are present, the probability of one or more encounters increases from 34% to 64% for common group sizes. Conclusions/Significance Under conditions in which park visitors have the physical space to avoid close encounters with other groups they are taking advantage of the opportunity. Visitors are minimizing group size, wearing masks, and remaining socially distant. However, encounters increase as the number or the size of the groups increases. In other areas of the parks this ability to avoid encounters may not be as possible. We recommend that park managers continue to appeal for compliance with CDC guidelines, especially the wearing of masks and encouraging visitors to split up into small groups when visiting.

scholarly journals No Limits of Acceptable Change: A Proposed Research Framework for Informing Visitor Use Management in the Context of Cultural Resources

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 377
Author(s):  
Zachary D. Miller ◽  
Wayne Freimund ◽  
Stefani A. Crabtree ◽  
Ethan P. Ryan
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Protected Areas ◽  
Human Activities ◽  
National Park ◽  
Cultural Resources ◽  
Cultural Resource ◽  
Limits Of Acceptable Change ◽  
The Us ◽  
Visitor Use ◽  
Material Evidence

Cultural resources are commonly defined as resources that provide material evidence of past human activities. These resources are unique, as they are both finite and non-renewable. This provides a challenge for traditional visitor use management since these resources have no limits of acceptable change. However, with nearly every national park in the US containing cultural resources, coupled with ever-growing visitation, it is essential that managers of parks and protected areas have the ability to make science-informed decisions about cultural resources in the context of visitor use management. We propose a framework that can help provide context and exploration for these challenges. Drawing on previous literature, this framework includes risk-based approaches to decision making about visitor use; visitor cognitions related to cultural resources; emotions, mood, and affect related to cultural resource experiences; creating and evaluating interpretive programs; deviant visitor behaviors related to cultural resources; and co-management.

scholarly journals Effect of Group Size and Individual Characteristics on Intergroup Encounters in Primates

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 325-341 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bonaventura Majolo ◽  
Aurora deBortoli Vizioli ◽  
Laura Martínez-Íñigo ◽  
Julia Lehmann
Keyword(s):  
Group Size ◽  
Dominance Rank ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
Primate Species ◽  
New World Monkeys ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Unequal Distribution ◽  
Intergroup Encounters ◽  
Group 2

AbstractIntergroup encounters are common in nonhuman primates and can vary from affiliative to aggressive. We extracted data from the literature to test five different hypotheses: 1) where there are group size differences between opposing groups, whether the larger group is more likely to win an intergroup encounter than the smaller group; 2) whether the likelihood of a group engaging in aggressive intergroup encounters increases with group size; and 3–5) whether dominant, older individuals, and/or males are more likely to participate aggressively in intergroup encounters than subordinate, younger individuals and/or females. Our data set comprised 52 studies on 31 primate species (3 lemur species, 5 New World monkeys, 19 Old World monkeys, and 4 apes). We found that the larger group is more likely to win an encounter against a smaller group than vice versa. We found no significant relationship between group size and propensity to be aggressive during intergroup encounters. We found weak/no support for the effect of age, dominance rank, and sex on the frequency of aggression displayed toward outgroup individuals during intergroup encounters. Species- and population-specific differences in inter- and intragroup competition and in the degree of the unequal distribution of resources across group members may explain why age, dominance rank, and sex are not strong predictors of aggression during intergroup encounters.

Variation in coyote social organization: the influence of prey size

1981 ◽  
Vol 59 (4) ◽  
pp. 639-652 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Don Bowen
Keyword(s):  
Social Organization ◽  
Group Size ◽  
National Park ◽  
Foraging Ecology ◽  
Mule Deer ◽  
Group Foraging ◽  
Winter Diet ◽  
Average Group ◽  
Average Size ◽  
Average Group Size

The foraging ecology and social organization of coyotes, Canis latrans, were studied in Jasper National Park, Alberta, from 1974 to 1977. Diet was determined from analysis of 1967 feces. In summer when rodents (43%) and neonatal cervids (19%) were the major foods, average group size in the population was 1.4 (n = 339 observations), whereas in winter when large ungulates dominated the diet (67%) average group size rose to 2.0 (n = 798). This pattern was also evident for two packs where mean group size rose from 1.5 in summer to 3.1 in winter with the incorporation of pups into the pack. The percentage of mule deer in the winter diet varied directly with group size. Packs were more successful than pairs or single coyotes in catching mule deer. In contrast, the percentage of elk in the winter diet was independent of group size. Since elk were scavenged, their occurrence in the winter diet was primarily a function of the number dying within each coyote territory. Pairs and packs defended ungulate carcasses and used these clumped resources more effectively than single coyotes. I conclude that group foraging increases the feeding efficiency of coyotes in Jasper. A comparison of the present findings with the results of the other coyote studies indicates that variation in the average size of prey eaten is an important factor determining group size and structure of coyote populations.

Boating impacts to seagrass in Florida Bay, Everglades National Park, Florida, USA: links with physical and visitor-use factors and implications for management

2012 ◽  
Vol 63 (11) ◽  
pp. 1117 ◽  
Author(s):  
David E. Hallac ◽  
Jimi Sadle ◽  
Leonard Pearlstine ◽  
Fred Herling ◽  
Dilip Shinde
Keyword(s):  
Shallow Water ◽  
National Park ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Florida Bay ◽  
Everglades National Park ◽  
Management Options ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Management Plans ◽  
Visitor Use ◽  
Use Factors

Recreational motor boating in shallow water can damage submerged natural resources through propeller scarring and these impacts represent one of many factors that affect the health of seagrass ecosystems. Understanding the patterns of seagrass scarring and associations with physical and visitor-use factors can assist in development of management plans that seek to minimise resource damage within marine protected areas. A quantification of seagrass scarring of Florida Bay in Everglades National Park, using aerial imagery, resulted in the detection of a substantial number and length of seagrass scars. Geospatial analyses indicated that scarring was widespread, with the densest areas found in shallow depths, near navigational channels, and around areas most heavily used by boats. Modelling identified areas of high scarring probability, including areas that may experience increased scarring in the future as a result of a reallocation of impacts if management strategies are implemented. New boating-management strategies are warranted to protect seagrass in Florida Bay. An adaptive approach focusing on the most heavily scarred areas, should consider a variety of management options, including education, improved signage, new enforcement efforts and boating restrictions, such as non-motorised zones, or temporary closures. These methods and recommendations are broadly applicable to management of shallow water systems before and after resource impacts have occurred.

scholarly journals Use of Multiple Methods: An Examination of Constraints Effecting Ethnic Minority Visitor Use of National Parks and Management Implications

2008 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 35-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nina S. Roberts ◽  
Donald A. Rodriguez
Keyword(s):  
Ethnic Minority ◽  
National Parks ◽  
National Park ◽  
Outdoor Recreation ◽  
Minority Groups ◽  
The Past ◽  
Park Visitation ◽  
Park Service ◽  
Visitor Use ◽  
Recreation Participation

Understanding outdoor recreation participation and national park visitation by members of ethnic minority groups has been a particular focus of outdoor recreation researchers for the past twenty years. Attracting ethnic minorities, and understanding their recreation needs and interests, demands a multi-faceted approach and sustained commitment not only by the U.S. National Park Service (NPS) but by other resource management agencies as well.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document