David E. LaHart

Knowledge and attitudes are major components of environmental perception and are important influences on each other. Knowledge about ecological concepts, wildlife, and endangered and threatened species was measured, using 1,300 8th-graders in Broward County, Florida, as the sample group. Knowledge scores were associated with attitudes, non-consumptive attitude orientations, involvement in animal activities, and other variables. Knowledge plays a relatvely minor role in predicting attitudes. Knowledge was significantly related to 16 to 25 attitude items, but the associations were weak,...

Knowledge levels and levels of activities involving animals were measured in 1315 eighth graders in Broward County, Florida. These variables were statistically compared with consumptive and non-consumptive resource orientations. Non-consumptive orientations toward wildlife characterized a majority of the population and were significantly associated with level of knowledge. Relationships between knowledge and consumptive orientations were mixed. Frequency of participation in animal related activities was significantly associated with knowledge and both consumptive and nonconsumptive...

A stratified, random sample of hunters on the Ocala National Forest produced 1,598 questionnaires which were coded and analyzed at Florida State University's Computing Center. One section of the survey explored hunter attitudes concerning other hunters and toward hunting white-tailed deer with dogs. This paper discusses the results from part of the survey. The cooperation of personnel in the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission and U. S. Forest Service in conducting the interviews is gratefully acknowledged.

Florida Duck broods were captured and banded by nightlighting in fresh, salt, and brackish water habitats. Ducklings were most frequently observed in brackish water areas. Duckling survival as determined by brood size observations was lower than in other mallard subspecies. Most duckling mortality occurs immediately after hatching. Ducklings are very terrestrial, a behaviorism that reduces exposure to an abundance of predators associated with Florida's aquatic environments.