Identifying inconsistencies in exotic pet regulations that perpetuate trade in risky species.

Regulatory inconsistencies at different jurisdictional levels have contributed to the global expansion of the exotic pet trade, with resultant increases in the spread of invasive species and pathogens. Researchers have enumerated multiple limitations and environmental risks posed by international and national rules that govern the exotic pet trade, yet little attention has focused on the regulation of the exotic pet trade within national borders. We reviewed state-level regulations that apply to the trade of vertebrate animal taxa in the United States. Definitions and classifications for regulating different vertebrate taxa varied greatly across states, and the terms pet and companion animal were poorly defined and inconsistent across states. States implemented regulations that permit trade in exotic vertebrate pets that are banned from import into the United States owing to public health and conservation concerns. Once species have been imported into the United States, inconsistent internal regulations facilitate the movement of animals that pose substantial invasion and disease risks. Violations of state laws were typically listed as misdemeanors, and the median fine for violating state wildlife trade laws was $1000. Inconsistent and incomplete regulation of exotic vertebrate pets across state borders, in conjunction with limited penalties for violating regulations, has facilitated continued possession of exotic pets in states where these animals are banned. Based on our review of regulatory weaknesses, we conclude that a transition to a federally enforced list of vertebrate species that may be traded as pets is needed, with all other vertebrate species banned from the exotic pet trade unless their potential invasion and disease risks have been assessed and demonstrated to be low or nonexistent.

Identificación de las inconsistencias en las regulaciones de las mascotas exóticas que perpetúan el mercado de especies riesgosas Resumen Las inconsistencias regulatorias en diferentes niveles regulatorios han contribuido a la expansión mundial del mercado de mascotas exóticas, con un incremento resultante en la dispersión de especies invasoras y patógenos. Los investigadores han enumerado varias limitaciones y riesgos ambientales que representan las normas nacionales e internacionales que dictan el mercado de mascotas exóticas, pero se ha puesto poca atención en la regulación de este mercado dentro de las fronteras nacionales. Revisamos las regulaciones a nivel estatal que aplican al mercado de taxones de vertebrados en los Estados Unidos (EU). Entre los estados, las definiciones y clasificaciones para regular el mercado de los diferentes taxones de vertebrados variaron mucho y los términos mascota y animal de compañía contaban con definiciones deficientes e incoherentes. Los estados implementaron regulaciones que permiten el mercado de vertebrados como mascotas exóticas cuya importación está prohibida para los EU debido a cuestiones de salud pública y conservación. Una vez que las especies han sido importadas a los EU, las regulaciones internas incoherentes facilitan el traslado de animales que representan un riesgo importante de invasión y de enfermedad. Con frecuencia, las violaciones a las leyes estatales se denominaban delitos menores y la multa promedio por violar las leyes estatales de comercio de fauna era de $1,000. La regulación incompleta e incoherente del mercado de mascotas exóticas entre los límites estatales, en conjunto con las penalizaciones limitadas por violar las regulaciones, ha facilitado la posesión continua de mascotas exóticas en estados en donde estos animales están prohibidos. Con base en nuestra revisión de las debilidades regulatorias, concluimos que se necesita transitar a una lista con aplicación federal de especies de vertebrados que pueden ser comercializadas como mascotas, con todas las demás especies de vertebrados vetadas del mercado a menos de que se haya evaluado su riesgo potencial de invasión y de enfermedad y se haya demostrado que es bajo o inexistente.

Understanding rabbit owners' willingness to engage in disease prevention behaviors.

Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus 2 (RHDV2) is a fatal, highly contagious pathogen that infects wild and domestic lagomorphs (rabbits and hares). RHDV2 is an important cause of disease in pet and companion rabbits, has resulted in economic losses for the commercial rabbit industry, and has caused declines of wild lagomorph populations. It is essential for domestic rabbit owners to engage in appropriate actions (e.g., using effective disinfectants, creating secure barriers between domestic and wild rabbits) to protect the health and welfare of their rabbits and reduce the risk of human-mediated spread of RHDV2. Thus, we investigated rabbit owners' stated willingness to engage in nine commonly recommended biosecurity practices and their support for seven potential government-implemented management actions. We administered an online survey to 1790 rabbit owners in the United States between April and August 2021. Respondents were likely to engage in all biosecurity measures and were supportive of most management actions that could be implemented by government agencies. Respondents' willingness to engage in and support biosecurity measures was positively correlated with their perceptions of the importance of biosecurity, risk perceptions pertaining to the impact of RHDV2 on lagomorphs and rabbit-related industries, knowledge of RHDV2, and trust in government to manage RHDV2. Respondents' motivations for owning rabbits, husbandry behaviors, and demographic characteristics also influenced their willingness to engage in or support biosecurity measures. Engaging domestic rabbit owners in collaborative biosecurity measures is critical for protecting domestic rabbit health and preventing potential spillover between domestic and free-roaming lagomorphs, as there are still many uncertainties about how RHDV2 is spreading across the United States and the world. Implementing outreach strategies that communicate the importance and effectiveness of biosecurity practices in protecting rabbit welfare, rabbit-related activities, and wild lagomorph populations may increase the likelihood of rabbit owners adopting biosecurity measures.

Investigating public support for biosecurity measures to mitigate pathogen transmission through the herpetological trade.

The expanding global trade in herpetofauna has contributed to new infectious disease dynamics and pathways that allow for the rapid spread of pathogens geographically. Improved biosecurity is needed to mitigate adverse biodiversity, economic and human health impacts associated with pathogen transmission through the herpetological trade. However, general lack of knowledge of the pathogen transmission risks associated with the global trade in herpetofauna and public opposition to biosecurity measures are critical obstacles to successfully preventing pathogen transmission. In 2019 we administered a survey to 2,007 members of the public in the United States of America to ascertain their support for interventions to prevent the spread of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal), ranaviruses, and Salmonella through the herpetological trade. We presented survey respondents with different potential hazards associated with pathogen transmission through this trade, namely ecological, economic, and human health impacts. We used structural equation models to determine how these different hazards and respondents' characteristics influenced respondents' support for quarantine and veterinary observation of herpetofauna imported into the United States, mandatory tests for diseases of concern, and best practices to reduce stress and improve the care of live herpetofauna during transport to the United States. Respondents' values and their perceived susceptibility and sensitivity to different hazards associated with pathogen transmission were key determinants of their support for biosecurity. Respondents with strong biospheric and altruistic values demonstrated sensitivity to ecological and human health impacts associated with pathogen transmission, whereas respondents with strong egoistic values demonstrated sensitivity to economic impacts. Respondents had limited knowledge of Bd, Bsal or ranaviruses, the size of the herpetological trade, or how this trade may contribute to pathogen transmission. Improved outreach and education on pathogen transmission through the herpetological trade is required, but it is important that messages are tailored to people with different values to elicit their support for biosecurity.

Down the Rabbit Hole: Domestic Rabbit Owners' Perceptions of Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus 2.

Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus 2 (RHDV2) is a highly contagious pathogen that infects wild and domestic rabbits and hares (lagomorphs). Globally, RHDV2 has resulted in substantial economic losses for commercial rabbit trade and caused wild lagomorph population declines. Previous research on RHDV2 suggests that human-mediated movement of rabbits may contribute to the spread of RHDV2. We conducted the first survey of individuals who own or interact with domestic rabbits to identify their rabbit husbandry behaviors and knowledge of, and concerns about, RHDV2. In 2021, we surveyed 1807 rabbit owners, breeders, and rescue staff in the USA. Respondents had a high level of knowledge about RHDV2. Respondents believed RHDV2 posed a high risk to rabbit-related activities and were concerned about its economic and ecological impacts. Nearly half of respondents always kept their rabbits indoors, but 10.7% of respondents allowed their rabbits outside frequently on properties used by wild lagomorphs. Respondents with five rabbits or less were generally willing to vaccinate their rabbits, but respondents with larger herds argued that vaccines were cost prohibitive. Given respondents' concerns about RHDV2, communication about disease prevention should highlight the adverse ecological and economic consequences of RHDV2.

Correction: Public preferences for ecological indicators used in Everglades restoration.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0234051.].

Public preferences for ecological indicators used in Everglades restoration.

The Everglades is one of the largest wetland ecosystems in the world covering almost 18,000 square miles from central Florida southward to Florida Bay. Over the 20th century, efforts to drain the Everglades for agriculture and development severely damaged the ecosystem so that today roughly 50% of the historic flow of water through the Everglades has been diverted elsewhere. In an attempt to restore the Everglades, the U.S. Congress authorized the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) in 2000, expected to cost over $16 billion and to take several decades to complete. We used the results from a stated preference choice experiment (SPCE) survey of Florida households to estimate the willingness to pay for several ecological attributes related to CERP performance indicators likely to be impacted by Everglades restoration. We also used a latent class model (LCM) to explore preference heterogeneity among respondents. On average, survey respondents were willing to pay for improvements in all of the attributes included in the survey, namely increased populations of wading birds, American alligators, endangered snail kites, and spotted seatrout, and reduced polluted discharges from Lake Okeechobee to the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie rivers. Willingness to pay was highest for reduced polluted discharges from Lake Okeechobee.

The importance of survey content: testing for the context dependency of the New Ecological Paradigm Scale.

Using a regression-based analysis of a survey of U.S. households, we demonstrate that both environmental concern, as measured by the New Ecological Paradigm (NEP) Scale, and facets of environmental concern, as measured by three NEP factors, are influenced by survey context. Survey respondents were presented with detailed information about two to four threatened and endangered marine species in the United States, including the Endangered Species Act listing status of the species and threats to the survival of the species. All else being equal, measures of environmental concern are influenced by both which species were included in the survey and by the concern expressed about these species. As such, measures of environmental concern are found to be context dependent since they are correlated with the species included in each survey. We also demonstrate that NEP-based measures of environmental concern are affected by socio-demographic variables, opinions about government spending, and environmental knowledge. Given the wide, multi-disciplinary use of the NEP Scale, it is important for researchers to recognize that NEP-based measures of environmental concern may be sensitive to information included in surveys.

Are environmental attitudes influenced by survey context? An investigation of the context dependency of the New Ecological Paradigm (NEP) Scale.

General environmental attitudes are often measured with questions added to surveys about specific environmental or non-environmental issues. Using results from a large-scale national survey on the protection of threatened and endangered marine species, we examine whether the context of the survey in which New Ecological Paradigm (NEP) Scale items are asked influence measured environmental concern. In this application the role that specific threatened or endangered species play in affecting responses to NEP Scale items is explored using a combination of non-parametric and parametric approaches. The results in this case suggest that context does influence stated general environmental attitudes, though the effects of context differ across NEP items.