Ethnobiology and Conservation

The Ethnobiology of Absurdities

Ulysses Albuquerque — 2024-09-25

We are often overwhelmed by a sense of frustration when we observe that certain social issues, rather than progressing, seem to stagnate or even worsen–a rise in violence against women, racism, misogyny, and transphobia. These problems, far from disappearing, raise the question of whether we truly advance toward a higher state of civility or are trapped in an endless cycle of setbacks. The feeling that progress is illusory and fleeting leads us to reflect deeply on the state of science, particularly ethnobiology.

Strengthening Anoa (Bubalus spp.) Conservation Based on Social and Cultural Community Values in Wallacea Bioregion, Indonesia

Diah Irawati Dwi Arini — 2024-12-06

This study explored the local wisdom of the Pinogu community in the Wallacea bioregion concerning the conservation of the endangered anoa species, with a focus on social and cultural values. In-depth interviews were conducted with 150 households, and the data were categorized into social and cultural themes. Regarding social values, the findings revealed that the community predominantly had a moderate level of knowledge about the anoa (52.0%), while 35% had high knowledge, and 13% had low knowledge. Results from the binary logistic analysis showed that participation in anoa conservation was influenced by three key factors. Those were knowledge of the species, involvement in forestry extension programs, and past participation in conservation initiatives. In the terms of cultural values, although no traditional rules were directly associated with anoa conservation, there were existing regulations that focused on forest protection around Pinogu area and core zone of the Bogani Nani Wartabone National Park. Based on these findings, it is recommended that extension and conservation education programs be intensified for the younger generation in Pinogu community, with active involvement of the community. This approach could ensure long-term sustainability by aligning with forest conservation efforts, benefiting both the local community and broader conservation goals.

Non-food uses of sharks in southern Bahia, Brazil

Márcio Luiz Vargas Barbosa-Filho — 2024-09-25

Sharks are a highly threatened group, and the threats these animals face also affect the cultural ways artisanal fisher communities interact with them. Consequently, local knowledge arising from human interactions with these animals also becomes threatened, as well as the potential of fisheries management through ethnoconservation. In this sense, this study examines the dynamics of shark use by fishers in northeastern Brazil. In 2012, data was collected through semi-structured interviews about shark uses applied to 65 traditional fishers who use sharks differently. The ways fishers use these fish are changing mainly because fishers informed an overall reduction in shark catches. Thus, the analysis of their uses comprises a historical-anthropological record, as specific interactions are quickly disappearing. Therefore, the variety of utilitarian connections and changes in shark use patterns over time reveal both ecologic and cultural extinction threats of the traditional shark fisheries in this area. We suggest implementing anthropological and biological studies that aim to contribute to the maintenance of the livelihoods of populations that interact with sharks and seek to guarantee the sustainable exploitation of these animals.

Iron Content in Wild Animal Meats: A Systematic Review Comparing Mammals and Birds

Amanda Letícia Bezerra de Oliveira — 2024-11-18

This study explores the iron content in wild animal meats, a critical component of the diets of several Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLC) worldwide. Our research aimed to: (i) characterize the iron content in the muscles and viscera of wild mammals and birds, and (ii) assess whether wild bird muscle contains less iron than wild mammal muscle. Employing a systematic literature review guided by PRISMA standards and utilizing databases such as Web of Science, Medline/PubMed, and Scopus, we analyzed data from eight pertinent studies. No data regarding bird viscera were identified. Our findings indicate a significant disparity in iron content between the viscera and muscle of mammals, with the former exhibiting over six times the iron content (mean of 15.25 mg per 100g) compared to the latter (mean of 2.24 mg per 100g). Contrary to our hypothesis, the iron content in the muscles of birds (mean of 3.75 mg per 100g) and mammals did not significantly differ (p=0.120), with birds, descriptively, demonstrating a nearly 70% higher iron content. This unexpected result may be attributed to the influence of slaughter methods, such as gunshot, which prevents external bleeding, or animal behavior. Our research underscores the necessity of considering slaughter techniques in nutritional assessments of meat. These findings not only contribute to our understanding of nutritional values of wild meat but also prompt further investigation into their role in human diets, especially among IPLC.

Argentine Ethnobiology: A Future in Peril

Catalina Rico Lenta — 2024-09-25

Based on an online survey and a workshop with young ethnobiologists, we analyze the current state and future prospects of the discipline in Argentina. The research topic analysis, geographic distribution, and insights into participant motivations and challenges highlight concerns regarding professional development in the context of underfunding and science devaluation within the country. We propose strategies for strengthening the field, including increased networking and improved representation in university curricula.

Investigating cultural ecosystem services of the Caatinga on Flickr

Maria Vittória Alves Santana — 2024-10-21

Public interest in nature can be promoted through social media by assessing the importance of a species to people and identifying new emblems of conservationist appeal. We aimed to assess the public interest in cultural ecosystem services in the Caatinga (seasonal dry forest). Ecosystem services were categorized based on approximately 1500 photographs posted on Flickr. These photographs were analyzed using manual and deep-learning (DL) approaches. The most observed categories for both approaches were “Enjoyment of the Landscape” (36.8%), “Appreciation of Nature – Animals’’ (25.6%), and “Social Activities” (19.3%). However, we found significant differences between manual and DL classifications owing to the difficulties in classifying categories using the DL model. The findings suggest a low cultural ecosystem service representation on the photo-sharing platform Flickr in the Caatinga region, even after removing 67% of the collected data. This may be attributed to the limited interest in Flickr among the Caatinga residents. Deep learning (DL) techniques hold potential for studying cultural ecosystem services, but their efficacy depends on the algorithm's capacity to discern human-nature interactions and various natural elements. Our observations indicate that increasing the scale of the training and test datasets and incorporating additional categories to account for Caatinga diversity may enhance the results.