Ethnobiology and Conservation

Local Ecological Knowledge, Fishing Practices, and Perceived Threats among Kichwa, Cofán, and Siona Fishers in the Ecuadorian Amazon

2026-01-10T16:51:18+00:00

Fisheries in the Ecuadorian Amazon support subsistence, cultural identity, and local economies, yet face
threats from oil extraction, agricultural expansion, and overfishing. This study integrates Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK) and fishing practices from 53 Kichwa, Siona, and Cofán fishers in seven communities across the Napo and Aguarico watersheds. Using structured and open-ended questionnaires, we recorded information on fishing techniques, seasonal patterns, perceived environmental changes, and threats to fisheries. Fishers reported 30-40% decline in abundance, that over 25% of fishers relate to oil extraction. Results show differences in fishing practices among Indigenous groups and communities, and identify key ecological insights including fish migration routes, spawning habitats, and seasonal abundance patterns. Despite high species richness, approximately 15 species dominate catches. Differences in market access and seasonal isolation also risk the food security of the more distant communities. Our results show that LEK in this data-poor region is not only a source of ecological information, but also a foundation for differentiated governance capacities, with some communities already translating knowledge into collective rules. These findings offer a baseline for culturally grounded, participatory co-management and community-based monitoring of Amazonian freshwater fisheries in Ecuador.

Social perception of the presence of free-ranging dogs and cats in green areas of a Neotropical city

2026-01-14T16:51:43+00:00

Social perception of dogs and cats in urban green areas (UGAs) is a controversial issue. Our objective was to determine social perceptions regarding the presence of free-ranging dogs and cats in the UGA of the city of Xalapa, in Veracruz, Mexico, considering human demographic variables. During January-September 2019, we surveyed 480 individuals through a questionnaire with binary responses and Likert scale, exploring their perception of the dogs and cats using UGA for shelter, breeding and preying on wildlife, as well as to determine the perceived nuisance of the presence of excreta and high abundance of free-ranging dogs and cats in the streets and UGA. We also analyzed their opinion of the implementation of mass-sterilization strategies and imposition of fines for irresponsible ownership. Our results showed that male semi-owners of the animals with no university education are most in agreement with these animals using the UGA for shelter, while semi-owners with no university education of the zones of high and medium socioeconomic status are those most in agreement with the dogs and cats breeding in the UGA. Most of the respondents were against the dogs and cats preying on wildlife, defecating in the streets and generating a nuisance through their high abundance. These results show that the social perception of free-ranging dogs and cats is somewhat complex and is strongly associated with demographic variables, which are important to the design of effective strategies of management and raising awareness among each demographic group.

We Need to Rethink Scientific Training

2026-01-06T16:50:45+00:00

Treating scientific literacy as a one-time curricular requirement obscures its cognitive demands and social consequences. Reframing methodology and philosophy of science as recurrent, metacognitive training highlights scientific thinking as a context-dependent way of knowing, essential for navigating complex problems and epistemic pluralism.