The difference in Aggregate Rattlesnake Perception score (post minus pre) for religion coefficients after viewing an instrumental message.

*Asterisks indicate statistically significant model predictors.</p

Anthropogenic impacts drive niche and conservation metrics of a cryptic rattlesnake on the Colorado Plateau of western North America

Ecosystems transition quickly in the Anthropocene, whereas biodiversity adapts more slowly. Here we simulated a shifting woodland ecosystem on the Colorado Plateau of western North America by using as its proxy over space and time the fundamental niche of the Arizona black rattlesnake (Crotalus cerberus). We found an expansive (= end-of-Pleistocene) range that contracted sharply (= present), but is blocked topographically by Grand Canyon/Colorado River as it shifts predictably northwestward under moderate climate change (= 2080). Vulnerability to contemporary wildfire was quantified from available records, with forested area reduced more than 27% over 13 years. Both 'ecosystem metrics' underscore how climate and wildfire are rapidly converting the Plateau ecosystem into novel habitat. To gauge potential effects on C. cerberus, we derived a series of relevant 'conservation metrics' (i.e. genetic variability, dispersal capacity, effective population size) by sequencing 118 individuals across 846 bp of mitochondrial (mt)DNA-ATPase8/6. We identified five significantly different clades (net sequence divergence = 2.2%) isolated by drainage/topography, with low dispersal (F-ST = 0.82) and small sizes (2N(ef) = 5.2). Our compiled metrics (i.e. small-populations, topographic-isolation, low-dispersal versus conserved-niche, vulnerable-ecosystem, dispersal barriers) underscore the susceptibility of this woodland specialist to a climate and wildfire tandem. We offer adaptive management scenarios that may counterbalance these metrics and avoid the extirpation of this and other highly specialized, relictual woodland clades.Open access.This item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]

Full model averaging of the effects of generation, religion, and sex on difference in Aggregate Rattlesnake Perception Score (ARP) after viewing the instrumental message.

Full model averaging of the effects of generation, religion, and sex on difference in Aggregate Rattlesnake Perception Score (ARP) after viewing the instrumental message.</p

The difference in Aggregate Rattlesnake Perception (ARP) score (post minus pre) of individuals with or without a venomous snake bite experience (i.e., pet, friend, yourself) after viewing a message strategy.

*Asterisks indicate statistically significant model predictions.</p

Relational video script.

We tested the effects of relational and instrumental message strategies on US residents’ perception of rattlesnakes—animals that tend to generate feelings of fear, disgust, or hatred but are nevertheless key members of healthy ecosystems. We deployed an online survey to social media users (n = 1,182) to describe perceptions of rattlesnakes and assess the change after viewing a randomly selected relational or instrumental video message. An 8–item, pre–and post–Rattlesnake Perception Test (RPT) evaluated perception variables along emotional, knowledge, and behavioral gradients on a 5–point Likert scale; the eight responses were combined to produce an Aggregate Rattlesnake Perception (ARP) score for each participant. We found that people from Abrahamic religions (i.e., Christianity, Judaism, Islam) and those identifying as female were associated with low initial perceptions of rattlesnakes, whereas agnostics and individuals residing in the Midwest region and in rural residential areas had relatively favorable perceptions. Overall, both videos produced positive changes in rattlesnake perception, although the instrumental video message led to a greater increase in ARP than the relational message. The relational message was associated with significant increases in ARP only among females, agnostics, Baby Boomers (age 57–75), and Generation–Z (age 18–25 to exclude minors). The instrumental video message was associated with significant increases in ARP, and this result varied by religious group. ARP changed less in those reporting prior experience with a venomous snake bite (to them, a friend, or a pet) than in those with no such experience. Our data suggest that relational and instrumental message strategies can improve people’s perceptions of unpopular and potentially dangerous wildlife, but their effectiveness may vary by gender, age, religious beliefs, and experience. These results can be used to hone and personalize communication strategies to improve perceptions of unpopular wildlife species.</div

The most likely model predicting the effect of a snake bite experience and difference in Aggregate Rattlesnake (ARP) score.

The most likely model predicting the effect of a snake bite experience and difference in Aggregate Rattlesnake (ARP) score.</p

The most likely model predicting initial Aggregate Rattlesnake Perception scores based on socio–demographic variables (see AICc values).

The most likely model predicting initial Aggregate Rattlesnake Perception scores based on socio–demographic variables (see AICc values).</p

Full model averaging results for the influence of snake bite experience and treatment on Aggregate Rattlesnake Perception (ARP) score.

Full model averaging results for the influence of snake bite experience and treatment on Aggregate Rattlesnake Perception (ARP) score.</p

Fig 1 -

The difference in Aggregate Rattlesnake Perception score (post minus pre) for A) generation, B) religion, and C) gender coefficients after viewing a relational message. *Asterisks indicate statistically significant model predictors.</p