Thesis (M.S.) in Resource Ecomonics and Policy--University of Maine, 2003. / Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 50-51).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1972. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1973. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.A.)--Rowan University, 2009. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.P.R. & T.M.) -- Lincoln University, 2006. / Also available via the World Wide Web.

The work produced to date in the field of recreation geography has shown a regrettable tendency to place the vacation area at the centre of its research focus. It is the writer's contention that such a bias has led to an imbalance in research which has inhibited the development of an adequate conceptual and methodological framework for the subject. The reasons for the noted trend lie essentially in the ideographic character of previous geographic research, combined with the strong physiographic undertones of the National Park and Conservational Movements in North America. These have asserted the attractive role of the natural resource and have obscured the conditioning effects of socio-economic influences on recreational travel. The present study is an attempt to clarify user-area relationships by highlighting the urban population source and the tangential movements emanating from it. Two aspects of such activity patterns are stressed within the work--those which determine the extent and magnitude of the movement and those which condition its direction. The observations, developed through the adoption of the city based perspective, throw a new light on the nature of spatial interaction between the user and the recreational area. The consequential interrelationships represent the central theme of the thesis and their unity is maintained throughout by a segmentalization based upon static and dynamic relationships. The results of the inquiry would suggest that area selection is conditioned by different factors with added distance from the urban centre. Within the day zone of Vancouver's skiing hinterland, demand is so significant that the minimization of travel time dominates directional movement patterns. With added distance, demand decreases, the travel friction effect becomes proportionately less effective, and a momentum factor is introduced. The consequence is that area selection is increasingly concomitant with area preferences, which in turn may be associated with socio-economic and skill groups. As a result directional movement within the vacation zone is strongly affected by the socio-economic characteristics of the market. Thus a polarization of movement is observed within the vacation zone, based on socio-economic and skill groupings. The passport required to enter this zone of maximum choice is increased skiing skill, partially limited by age, and income factors. Two broad implications are derived from these findings. Firstly an emphasis on area quality or land capability for recreation may only be meaningful for the vacation zone, and then only when it is related to the differing perceptions of various socio-economic groups. Secondly it is evident that distance is not the only control factor which affects demand. A model which merely considers population and distance can scarcely be expected to predict demand accurately. Inputs which account for area quality, accessibility, location within functional zones, and the linkages between socio-economic and mobility factors, will have to be included before accurate prediction is possible. Urbanization is increasing, the work week is decreasing, resulting in recreational congestion and societal frustration. Prediction of demand along with positive planning is necessary. The geographer is in a position to contribute to the solution of this pragmatic problem but first he must break away from the biases of the past. The aim of the present study is to indicate some of the added insights which are available through the altered perspective which asserts the city's position as a node and generator of recreational travel. / Arts, Faculty of / Geography, Department of / Graduate

0 / SPK / specialcollections@tulane.edu

Human presence and recreational activities can negatively impact wildlife. Due to the popularity of human recreation along bodies of water, waterfowl populations are frequently impacted. Non-consumptive recreation can impact waterfowl by leading to unnecessary expenditure of energy, and exclusion from important feeding areas. These consequences can ultimately impact overwintering and migratory survival as well as breeding success. With recreational demands expected to increase, it is important for waterfowl and habitat managers to understand the immediate and additive impacts of recreational activities and how landscape and seasonal covariates can influence these impacts. Additionally, the presence of researchers and the popular methods used to monitor waterfowl themselves can be intrusive. As advances have been made in optics and other monitoring technologies, wildlife researchers have implemented new methods to minimize disturbance to their study organisms as well as increase efficiency and access remote areas. I conducted waterfowl distribution and behavioral surveys across 13 sites in southern Illinois during the non-breeding season (Oct-Feb) of 2020-2021. I also tested the efficacy of an affordable remote video surveillance systems compared to in-person waterfowl counts to monitor distribution and abundance of waterfowl. In person counts and proportion of behaviors were recorded every 5 minutes as well as before and after a given disturbance to 1) assess the impacts of specific recreational activities on waterfowl and 2) examine patterns in daily site usage, distribution and behavior in relation to daily numbers of disturbances events. Remote video surveillance derived counts were inaccurate and rarely detected birds when present (n=8 out of 5,754 total comparisons). When waterfowl were detected, counts often were less than the in-person counts (n=6). Major reasons for a lack of detection were limited camera resolution and field of view, weather and user error. Boating and lawn maintenance/construction had the greatest immediate impacts on waterfowl distribution and proportions of flight response. Exercise, wildlife observation, and fishing also had significant immediate impacts on waterfowl behavior and distribution but to a lesser extent. When looking at daily patterns, increasing the daily number of water-based disturbances led to lower rates of site usage by waterfowl and increased daily rates of evasive behaviors at the expense of feeding and resting. Increases in land-based disturbances (exercise, wildlife observation, and fishing) had no significant impact on daily patterns of local site usage and behaviors, suggesting birds are capable of acclimation to terrestrial recreation. Vehicular traffic had no effect on any immediate responses or daily patterns in site usage, distribution or behavior. Covariates such as cover type, urbanization, hunting season, distance from shore, and buffer size influenced how impactful non-consumptive recreation is on waterfowl. Some of the most significant findings were that larger buffer zones often minimized the immediate and additive impacts of terrestrial recreation, and birds were less likely to flee disturbance events during the hunting season. Although recreation overall does impact waterfowl, land managers can still provide opportunities for many terrestrial recreational activities, specifically by having trails and other areas of recreation further from waterfowl habitat. Partial and temporary closures to high impact activities like boating may be needed. Also, when studying waterfowl populations, remote video surveillance systems do not appear to be a viable alternative to in-person waterfowl monitoring; however, with more time for technology to improve, this method may need to be revisited.

Thesis (M.S.)--Boston University

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