Conflict among recreationists in natural resource settings is a long-term problem that continues to grow in many areas. This study was conducted to provide an assessment of conflict between hikers and horseback riders in the Mount Rogers High Country of Virginia. Conflict was examined using three separate measures: crowding, impacts and interference. Examination of an index measure of conflict revealed that 64% of hikers experienced conflict toward horseback riders, while only 3% of horseback riders reported conflict due to hikers. Because of the clearly asymmetric nature of the conflict, the conflict predictor variables (past experience, wilderness involvement, place attachment and perceived similarity) were examined for the hiker population in the study. Discriminant analysis revealed that the model tested can predict with more than 68% success whether hikers will experience conflict due to horses. The perceived similarity of values variable was shown to be the most important and perceived similarity of socio-economic status the second in importance in explaining conflict. Hikers that perceived horseback riders to be different from themselves in how they value the High Country and in their socio-economic status were more likely to experience conflict with horseback riders than hikers that perceived horseback riders as similar to themselves. Measures of past experience and wilderness involvement were also significant predictors of conflict. However, relative to the perceived similarity items, these variables did not contribute much information or "predictive power" to the model. The two place attachment factors, place identity and place dependence, were not significant in the model. / Master of Science

Recent research has emphasized the importance of rail-trails for various activity experiences and economic benefits. Past research has not, however, examined rail-trail opportunities with other trail opportunities in order to understand whether specific management efforts are needed for this type of setting and its users. This study investigated the differences between rail-trail users and general trail users with respect to socio-demographics (age, income, gender, income, community type), use characteristics (frequency of visitation, miles traveled to the site, group size, past experience with the area), expenditures (total and specific types), and trail/activity meanings (satisfaction, setting appraisals, place attachment, activity involvement, mode of experience). The study included a variety of camping and day-use areas within the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area. On-site interview and mail survey data were obtained from 235 trail respondents from May through October, 1993. Findings revealed few group differences with respect to socio-demographics and trail meanings. Use characteristics and expenditures, however, demonstrated differences as rail-trail users tended to be day-users who traveled shorter distances, participated in trail activities for fewer hours and within smaller groups, and tended to spend more on hotel accommodations and restaurants than general trail users. Management implications relate to assisting the economic base of local communities by attracting more non-local rail-trail users and encouraging them to stay longer in the region. Recommendations for further research suggest assessing benefits and motivations with respect to specific trail opportunities in order to reveal greater group differentiation. A discussion on the joint effects of variations in activities at the two trail settings is also addressed. / Master of Science

Recent research in the field of tourism has demonstrated that the endorsement of the indigenous population is essential for the development, successful operation and sustainability of tourism. Achieving the goal of favorable community support for the tourism industry will require an understanding of how residents formulate their perceptions of the impact of tourism and their attitudes toward tourism. The purpose of this study was to examine the interplay of elements that affect host community resident attitudes toward tourism. The principles of social exchange theory provided the framework for a tourism exchange system model which posits that tourism is a system of exchanges of resources between the tourist, the host community, and the tourist business and service sector. The research demonstrated that a propitious attitude toward tourism is a function of a favorable exchange position which is viewed as a desire to enter into or maintain a tourism exchange relationship. / Ph. D.

I examined the population genetic structure of three known subspecies of Glaucomys sabrinus from Appalachia, Washington State, and two previously unexamined populations from Mount Rogers National Recreation Area (MRNRA) in Southwestern Virginia. Mean FST (0.107) and an AMOVA (P G. sabrinus subspecies populations in the southern Appalachians are genetically differentiated. Glaucomys sabrinus at MRNRA were less inbred than expected. Gene flow, a consensus tree based on Nei's genetic distance, elevated heterozygosity and morphometric data suggest that the MRNRA G. sabrinus population is an intergrade of the two recognized Appalachian subspecies, G. s. fuscus and G. s. coloratus. I compared inbreeding and the level of parasite infestation in the two MRNRA populations of G. sabrinus and found that Whitetop Mountain (150 ha habitat) was more inbred than the population on Mount Rogers (400 ha habitat, P Strongyloides robustus were greater in the more fragmented Whitetop Mountain population, although the difference was not statistically significant (P= 0.278). A Mantel comparison of genetic diversity and parasite infestation among individuals did show a highly significant negative correlation (P G. sabrinus form a unique insular population with high genetic diversity that is nonetheless susceptible to increased inbreeding, and elevated parasitism caused by fragmentation. MRNRA G. sabrinus should retain endangered species status.