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Bhattacharjee A, Sadadev BM, Karmacharya DK, Baral R, Pérez‐García JM, Giménez Casalduero A, Sánchez‐Zapata JA, Anadón JD. Local ecological knowledge and education drive farmers' contrasting perceptions of scavengers and their function in Nepal. PEOPLE AND NATURE 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/pan3.10315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Aishwarya Bhattacharjee
- Department of Biology, Queens College City University of New York Queens NY USA
- Biology Doctoral Program, Graduate Center City University of New York New York NY USA
| | | | | | - Rishi Baral
- National Trust for Nature Conservation Annapurna Conservation Area Project Pokhara Nepal
| | | | | | | | - José D. Anadón
- Department of Biology, Queens College City University of New York Queens NY USA
- Biology Doctoral Program, Graduate Center City University of New York New York NY USA
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Cortés-Avizanda A, Pereira HM, McKee E, Ceballos O, Martín-López B. Social actors' perceptions of wildlife: Insights for the conservation of species in Mediterranean protected areas. AMBIO 2022; 51:990-1000. [PMID: 34251598 PMCID: PMC8847512 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-021-01546-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2020] [Revised: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
In the current Anthropocene Era, with numerous escalating challenges for biodiversity conservation, the inclusion of the social dimension into management decisions regarding wildlife and protected areas is critical to their success. By conducting 354 questionnaires in a Mediterranean protected area (the Biosphere Reserve of Bardenas Reales, Northern Spain), we aim to determine sociodemographic factors influencing knowledge levels and perceptions of species and functional groups as, emblematic and threatened. We found that hunters and animal husbandry workers knew more species than other social actors. Additionally, the perception of functional groups as threatened or emblematic differed between social actor groups, with statistically significant associations between perceptions and the characteristics of respondents. Interestingly, we found that although elusive steppe species are globally considered as endangered, these species were the least known by all social actor groups and rarely perceived as emblematic. This research is a novel approach and provides a better understanding of how perceptions can facilitate conservation decisions, particularly regarding endangered species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ainara Cortés-Avizanda
- Departamento de Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Faculty of Biology, University of Seville, Av. Reina Mercedes s/n, 41012 Seville, Spain
- Department of Conservation Biology, EBD (CSIC), C/. Americo Vespucio 26, 41092 Sevilla, Spain
- Infraestruturas de Portugal Biodiversity-Chair CIBIO-InBIO Centro de Investigacão em Biodiversidade e Recursos Geneticos da Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, Rua Padre Armando Quintas, nº 7, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal
| | - Henrique M. Pereira
- Infraestruturas de Portugal Biodiversity-Chair CIBIO-InBIO Centro de Investigacão em Biodiversidade e Recursos Geneticos da Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, Rua Padre Armando Quintas, nº 7, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Am Kirchtor 1, 06108 Halle, Saale Germany
| | - Ellen McKee
- Department of Conservation Biology, EBD (CSIC), C/. Americo Vespucio 26, 41092 Sevilla, Spain
| | | | - Berta Martín-López
- Faculty of Sustainability, Leuphana University of Lüneburg, Universtitätsalle 1, 21355 Lüneburg, Germany
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Thompson LJ, Krüger SC, Coverdale BM, Shaffer LJ, Ottinger MA, Davies JP, Daboné C, Kibuule M, Cherkaoui SI, Garbett RA, Phipps WL, Buechley ER, Godino Ruiz A, Lecoq M, Carneiro C, Harrell RM, Gore ML, Bowerman WW. Assessing African Vultures as Biomonitors and Umbrella Species. FRONTIERS IN CONSERVATION SCIENCE 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fcosc.2021.729025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
African vulture populations are rapidly declining, yet funding and other resources available for their conservation are limited. Improving our understanding of which African vulture species could best serve as an umbrella species for the entire suite of African vultures could help conservationists save time, money, and resources by focusing their efforts on a single vulture species. Furthermore, improving our understanding of the suitability of African vultures as biomonitors for detecting environmental toxins could help conservation authorities to detect changes in ecosystem health. We used a systematic approach based on criteria selected a priori to objectively evaluate the potential of each of the 10 resident African vulture species as (i) an umbrella species for all of the African vulture species, and (ii) an avian biomonitor. For each criterion, we scored the respective African vulture species and summed the scores to determine which species was best suited as an umbrella species and as an avian biomonitor. Our results showed that, overall, certain aspects of vulture ecology (large population sizes, large body sizes, long lifespans, and their ability to be monitored over numerous seasons) support their suitability as biomonitors, while other ecological traits, including their diets and the public's perceptions of vultures, could diminish their suitability. The White-backed Vulture (Gyps africanus) was the best fit of the 10 vulture species in our assessment as both an avian biomonitor and an umbrella species for all African vulture species. Meanwhile, significant knowledge gaps for other species inhibit their utility as biomonitors. Due to their large home-range sizes, African vultures may only be useful as biomonitors at a regional scale. However, there could be value in using the White-backed Vulture as an umbrella species, as an aid to conserve the entire suite of African vulture species.
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Pozo RA, Cusack JJ, Acebes P, Malo JE, Traba J, Iranzo EC, Morris-Trainor Z, Minderman J, Bunnefeld N, Radic-Schilling S, Moraga CA, Arriagada R, Corti P. Reconciling livestock production and wild herbivore conservation: challenges and opportunities. Trends Ecol Evol 2021; 36:750-761. [PMID: 34103191 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2021.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Revised: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Increasing food security and preventing further loss of biodiversity are two of humanity's most pressing challenges. Yet, efforts to address these challenges often lead to situations of conflict between the interests of agricultural production and those of biodiversity conservation. Here, we focus on conflicts between livestock production and the conservation of wild herbivores, which have received little attention in the scientific literature. We identify four key socio-ecological challenges underlying such conflicts, which we illustrate using a range of case studies. We argue that addressing these challenges will require the implementation of co-management approaches that promote the participation of relevant stakeholders in processes of ecological monitoring, impact assessment, decision-making, and active knowledge sharing.
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Affiliation(s)
- R A Pozo
- Escuela de Agronomía, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Quillota, 2260000, Chile.
| | - J J Cusack
- Centro de Modelación y Monitoreo de Ecosistemas, Universidad Mayor, Santiago, Chile.
| | - P Acebes
- Terrestrial Ecology Research Group (TEG-UAM), Departamento de Ecología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, España; Centro de Investigación en Biodiversidad y Cambio Global (CIBC-UAM), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, España
| | - J E Malo
- Terrestrial Ecology Research Group (TEG-UAM), Departamento de Ecología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, España; Centro de Investigación en Biodiversidad y Cambio Global (CIBC-UAM), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, España
| | - J Traba
- Terrestrial Ecology Research Group (TEG-UAM), Departamento de Ecología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, España; Centro de Investigación en Biodiversidad y Cambio Global (CIBC-UAM), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, España
| | - E C Iranzo
- Terrestrial Ecology Research Group (TEG-UAM), Departamento de Ecología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, España; Centro de Investigación en Biodiversidad y Cambio Global (CIBC-UAM), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, España; Laboratorio de Manejo y Conservación de Vida Silvestre, Instituto de Ciencia Animal y Programa de Investigación Aplicada en Fauna Silvestre, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Z Morris-Trainor
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - J Minderman
- Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, UK
| | - N Bunnefeld
- Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, UK
| | - S Radic-Schilling
- Departamento de Ciencias Agropecuarias y Acuícolas, Universidad de Magallanes, Punta Arenas, Chile
| | - C A Moraga
- Departamento de Ciencias Agropecuarias y Acuícolas, Universidad de Magallanes, Punta Arenas, Chile; School of Natural Resources and Environment, and Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Department, University of Florida, FL, USA; Centro de Estudios del Cuaternario de Fuego-Patagonia y Antártica (Fundación CEQUA), Punta Arenas, Chile
| | - R Arriagada
- Department of Ecosystems and Environment, Millennium Nucleus Center for the Socioeconomic Impact of Environmental Policies (CESIEP), Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile; Center for Applied Ecology and Sustainability (CAPES), Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile; Center for Climate and Resilience Research (CR(2)), Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - P Corti
- Laboratorio de Manejo y Conservación de Vida Silvestre, Instituto de Ciencia Animal y Programa de Investigación Aplicada en Fauna Silvestre, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
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Martínez-Sastre R, García D, Miñarro M, Martín-López B. Farmers' perceptions and knowledge of natural enemies as providers of biological control in cider apple orchards. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2020; 266:110589. [PMID: 32392141 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.110589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2019] [Revised: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 04/08/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
While the importance of biological control for crop production is widely acknowledged, research on how farmers perceive on-farm natural enemies remains scarce. This paper examines cider-apple farmers' perceptions and knowledge of the concept of biological control and the specific organisms underpinning its provision (i.e. natural enemies) in the cider-apple orchards of Asturias (N Spain). Although these orchards host a high diversity of natural enemies, certain pests continue to be a problem, e.g. the codling moth and the fossorial water vole. By conducting 90 face-to-face surveys, we found that farmers "under-estimated" the importance of biological control and the role played by natural enemies in suppressing pests from cider-apple orchards. Furthermore, farmers were particularly unaware of the indirect benefits of biological control, such as the increased quality and yield of product. Farmers also perceived that different taxa of natural enemies contribute to biological control to differing extents, for example, birds, such as buzzard, robin and tit, were perceived as the most important natural enemies, while arachnids and insects (excluding ladybug) were perceived as less important. This perceived difference in the biological control contribution of vertebrates and invertebrates could be influenced by farmers' local knowledge, acquired on-farm through daily experiences, as well as from external sources. In addition, we found that farmers did recognize many interactions between natural enemies and pests, although there were serious misconceptions and knowledge gaps. Finally, we revealed that education level, being a full-or part time farmer rather than a 'hobby' farmer, time spent working in agriculture, and orchard size are all factors that positively influence farmer's perception of natural enemies. Our results provide insights for a future management of cider-apple orchards which promotes biological control through: (1) creating initiatives to develop farmers' knowledge regarding biological control and natural enemies, (2) fostering traditional farming systems that contribute to preserving local ecological knowledge of biological control, and (3) establishing networks of farmers so they can learn from each other and share local knowledge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Martínez-Sastre
- Servicio Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario (SERIDA), Apdo.13, E-33300, Villaviciosa, Asturias, Spain.
| | - Daniel García
- Dpto. Biología de Organismos y Sistemas, Universidad de Oviedo, and Unidad Mixta de Investigación en Biodiversidad (CSIC-Uo-PA), C/Catedrático Rodrigo Uría s/n, E-33006, Oviedo, Asturias, Spain
| | - Marcos Miñarro
- Servicio Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario (SERIDA), Apdo.13, E-33300, Villaviciosa, Asturias, Spain
| | - Berta Martín-López
- Faculty of Sustainability, Institute for Ethics and Transdisciplinary Sustainability Research, Leuphana University, Universitätsallee 1, 21335, Lüneburg, Germany
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Pascual-Rico R, Martín-López B, Sánchez-Zapata JA, Morales-Reyes Z. Scientific priorities and shepherds' perceptions of ungulate's contributions to people in rewilding landscapes. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 705:135876. [PMID: 31837862 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2019] [Revised: 11/29/2019] [Accepted: 11/29/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Nature's contributions to people (NCP) are all the contributions of living nature, both beneficial and detrimental, to the societies' life's quality. Ungulates play this dual role of providers of beneficial and detrimental NCP, as they are responsible of the supply of benefits (e.g. extractive experiences, habitat maintenance) and detriments (e.g. crops damage, traffic collisions). Our aim was to analyze the NCP provided by wild ungulates through examining the scientific priorities and the shepherds' perceptions in peninsular Spain. We reviewed scientific articles of NCP provided by ungulates in Spain and conducted questionnaires regarding NCP to shepherds in farming systems where domestic and wild ungulates cohabit. Then, we compared whether the scientific priorities match with those perceived by shepherds. Both stakeholders highlight more detrimental than beneficial NCP, although there are some mismatches between scientific priorities and shepherds' perceptions. Regarding detrimental NCP, soil alteration, silvicultural damage, human safety or traffic collision were included in scientific literature but not mentioned by shepherds. Contrarywise, shepherds mainly considered grazing competence and damage to animals (i.e. game species and livestock) as important detrimental NCP. Concerning beneficial NCP, whilst hunting was prominent in the publications, shepherds did not conceived it as an important beneficial contribution and considered the regulation of organisms (i.e. scavenging alternative prey) important benefits. These results can have twofold implications. The emphasis on detrimental NCP (studied and perceived) can reinforce the idea that ungulates can threaten humans rather than contribute to societies' wellbeing. The fact that research does not address the interests of shepherds can affect the social tolerance towards ungulates as the damages experienced or perceived by shepherds are not studied. Our results show the relevance of considering local knowledge held by shepherds and their perceptions, something highlighted by the NCP approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Pascual-Rico
- Department of Applied Biology, Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche, Av. De la Universidad S/N, 03202 Elche, Spain.
| | - Berta Martín-López
- Faculty of Sustainability, Institute of Ethics and Transdisciplinary Sustainability Research, Leuphana University of Lüneburg, Universitätsallee 1, 21335 Lüneburg, Germany
| | - José Antonio Sánchez-Zapata
- Department of Applied Biology, Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche, Av. De la Universidad S/N, 03202 Elche, Spain
| | - Zebensui Morales-Reyes
- Department of Applied Biology, Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche, Av. De la Universidad S/N, 03202 Elche, Spain
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García-Alfonso M, Morales-Reyes Z, Gangoso L, Bouten W, Sánchez-Zapata JA, Serrano D, Donázar JA. Probing into farmers' perceptions of a globally endangered ecosystem service provider. AMBIO 2019; 48:900-912. [PMID: 30244355 PMCID: PMC6541662 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-018-1102-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2017] [Revised: 07/16/2018] [Accepted: 09/10/2018] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Society's perception of ecosystem services is a key issue in conservation, particularly for endangered species providing services linked to human activities. Misperceptions may lead to wildlife-human conflicts with the risk of disappearance of the species involved. We contrasted farmers' perceptions with highly accurate quantitative data of an endangered vulture species, which provide ecosystem services. We combined surveys of 59 farmers with data from 48 GPS-tagged Canarian Egyptian vultures (Neophron percnopterus majorensis endemic to the Spanish Canary Islands) to disentangle factors influencing consistency between farmers' awareness of vulture occurrence on their properties and vulture behavior. Egyptian vultures were perceived as the main providers of scavenging services and the most beneficial avian scavenger. Consistency between farmers' perceptions (surveys) and vulture use of their farms (GPS data) was higher in the morning, in older males, and at farms with lower livestock numbers, located near vulture communal roosts, and visited more frequently by vultures. Our results underline the potential influence of modern livestock husbandry in disconnecting people from ecosystems, and how appreciation could be even lower for scarce or threatened ecosystem service providers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina García-Alfonso
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC), C/Américo Vespucio 26, 41092 Seville, Spain
| | - Zebensui Morales-Reyes
- Department of Applied Biology, Miguel Hernández University, Avda. de la Universidad, s/n, 03202 Elche, Spain
| | - Laura Gangoso
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Willem Bouten
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - José A. Sánchez-Zapata
- Department of Applied Biology, Miguel Hernández University, Avda. de la Universidad, s/n, 03202 Elche, Spain
| | - David Serrano
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC), C/Américo Vespucio 26, 41092 Seville, Spain
| | - José A. Donázar
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC), C/Américo Vespucio 26, 41092 Seville, Spain
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