Emotions as Drivers of Wildlife Stewardship Behavior: Examining Citizen Science Nest Monitors’ Responses to Invasive House Sparrows

摘要: ABSTRACTGrowing evidence suggests wildlife stewardship behaviors might be affected by emotional dispositions toward particular species. To test this hypothesis, we studied management choices made backyard citizen scientists (N = 448) involved in two North American bird nest monitoring projects. Our exploratory study characterized monitors’ efforts to manage invasive house sparrows, which compete with native songbirds for nesting sites, and examined the relative influence of cognitive affective factors on orientations. Results revealed that nearly all respondents engaged some form sparrow management, most favored a combination lethal non-lethal approaches. Core affect, dispositions, experiential variables were primary drivers scientists’ decisions, anger sparrows firsthand contact damage as strongest positive correlates orien...