A survey of public awareness of the occurrence and diversity of cetaceans in south-west Scotland
In summer 2001, members of the public in south-west Scotland were interviewed to determine their knowledge of the diversity and occurrence of cetaceans in the region. Interviews were conducted in both rural island and coastal communities and a major city. The majority of interviewees (46%) underesti...
Published in: | Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom |
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Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press (CUP)
2004
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0025315404010537h https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0025315404010537 |
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crcambridgeupr:10.1017/s0025315404010537h 2024-03-03T08:45:08+00:00 A survey of public awareness of the occurrence and diversity of cetaceans in south-west Scotland Scott, N.J. Parsons, E.C.M. 2004 http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0025315404010537h https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0025315404010537 en eng Cambridge University Press (CUP) https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom volume 84, issue 5, page 1101-1104 ISSN 0025-3154 1469-7769 Aquatic Science journal-article 2004 crcambridgeupr https://doi.org/10.1017/s0025315404010537h 2024-02-08T08:35:05Z In summer 2001, members of the public in south-west Scotland were interviewed to determine their knowledge of the diversity and occurrence of cetaceans in the region. Interviews were conducted in both rural island and coastal communities and a major city. The majority of interviewees (46%) underestimated the number of cetacean species occurring in western Scottish waters (i.e. <10 species). Only 4·4% gave the correct answer (24). Location of the participant affected the level of knowledge. Photographs were presented of the four most commonly occurring cetacean species: only 30·2% correctly identified one or more of the species. The species most frequently identified correctly was the bottlenose dolphin (19% of interviewees) followed by the harbour porpoise (17·5%), minke whale (10·7%) and, lastly, the common dolphin (7·1%). Interviewees were also asked whether certain cetacean species occurred in local waters or not. The level of awareness was generally low. The most common positive answers involved the bottlenose dolphin, harbour porpoise, and minke whale. Only one in five were aware of killer whales and 13·1% believed that grey whales occurred in Scottish waters. Knowledge of species occurrence showed statistically significant relationships with age, gender, level of environmental interest and location, but not occupation (teachers, tourism professionals and marine stakeholders did not show greater levels of cetacean knowledge). The study identified target groups and locations where knowledge of cetaceans is low and environmental education efforts should be concentrated. Article in Journal/Newspaper Harbour porpoise minke whale Cambridge University Press Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 84 5 1101 1104 |
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Cambridge University Press |
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crcambridgeupr |
language |
English |
topic |
Aquatic Science |
spellingShingle |
Aquatic Science Scott, N.J. Parsons, E.C.M. A survey of public awareness of the occurrence and diversity of cetaceans in south-west Scotland |
topic_facet |
Aquatic Science |
description |
In summer 2001, members of the public in south-west Scotland were interviewed to determine their knowledge of the diversity and occurrence of cetaceans in the region. Interviews were conducted in both rural island and coastal communities and a major city. The majority of interviewees (46%) underestimated the number of cetacean species occurring in western Scottish waters (i.e. <10 species). Only 4·4% gave the correct answer (24). Location of the participant affected the level of knowledge. Photographs were presented of the four most commonly occurring cetacean species: only 30·2% correctly identified one or more of the species. The species most frequently identified correctly was the bottlenose dolphin (19% of interviewees) followed by the harbour porpoise (17·5%), minke whale (10·7%) and, lastly, the common dolphin (7·1%). Interviewees were also asked whether certain cetacean species occurred in local waters or not. The level of awareness was generally low. The most common positive answers involved the bottlenose dolphin, harbour porpoise, and minke whale. Only one in five were aware of killer whales and 13·1% believed that grey whales occurred in Scottish waters. Knowledge of species occurrence showed statistically significant relationships with age, gender, level of environmental interest and location, but not occupation (teachers, tourism professionals and marine stakeholders did not show greater levels of cetacean knowledge). The study identified target groups and locations where knowledge of cetaceans is low and environmental education efforts should be concentrated. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Scott, N.J. Parsons, E.C.M. |
author_facet |
Scott, N.J. Parsons, E.C.M. |
author_sort |
Scott, N.J. |
title |
A survey of public awareness of the occurrence and diversity of cetaceans in south-west Scotland |
title_short |
A survey of public awareness of the occurrence and diversity of cetaceans in south-west Scotland |
title_full |
A survey of public awareness of the occurrence and diversity of cetaceans in south-west Scotland |
title_fullStr |
A survey of public awareness of the occurrence and diversity of cetaceans in south-west Scotland |
title_full_unstemmed |
A survey of public awareness of the occurrence and diversity of cetaceans in south-west Scotland |
title_sort |
survey of public awareness of the occurrence and diversity of cetaceans in south-west scotland |
publisher |
Cambridge University Press (CUP) |
publishDate |
2004 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0025315404010537h https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0025315404010537 |
genre |
Harbour porpoise minke whale |
genre_facet |
Harbour porpoise minke whale |
op_source |
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom volume 84, issue 5, page 1101-1104 ISSN 0025-3154 1469-7769 |
op_rights |
https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1017/s0025315404010537h |
container_title |
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom |
container_volume |
84 |
container_issue |
5 |
container_start_page |
1101 |
op_container_end_page |
1104 |
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1792500677262442496 |