Biocultural salient birds: which biological and cultural factors define them?
People’s interests and needs, as well as biological characteristics of species, determine human perception and interaction with biodiversity. Thus, both cultural and biological factors should be considered to understand biocultural salient species. We studied the cultural and biological traits that...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-07-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Conservation Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcosc.2023.1215967/full |
| _version_ | 1797778240342851584 |
|---|---|
| author | Rubén Ortega-Álvarez Alejandro Casas |
| author_facet | Rubén Ortega-Álvarez Alejandro Casas |
| author_sort | Rubén Ortega-Álvarez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | People’s interests and needs, as well as biological characteristics of species, determine human perception and interaction with biodiversity. Thus, both cultural and biological factors should be considered to understand biocultural salient species. We studied the cultural and biological traits that influence bird salience for an indigenous community in Mexico. Firstly, we used bird lists mentioned by local people to compute salient indexes for species. Then, we constructed seven cultural association categories to represent the local significance of birds (recreation, beliefs, environment, food, crop damage, economy, pets) and compiled biological information about species (color, size, vocal activity, detectability, abundance, daily activity pattern, habitat, residence status, taxonomic family). Finally, we determined the relations of cultural associations and biological traits with bird salience using hierarchical clusters. We observed a strong link between salient birds and human feeding, as these animals were locally recognized as food and threat to crops. Salient and non-salient birds were differentiated by their residence status and vocal activity, as local awareness was greater towards year-round resident and vocal species. Salience related the most with abundance, followed by color and detectability. Our study provides a route to identify cultural and biological factors influencing biocultural salience, which might prove useful for establishing conservation initiatives, public policies, and environmental education actions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T23:14:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6f0f07703df1424483170908159d93f7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2673-611X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T23:14:28Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Conservation Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-6f0f07703df1424483170908159d93f72023-07-17T12:51:29ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Conservation Science2673-611X2023-07-01410.3389/fcosc.2023.12159671215967Biocultural salient birds: which biological and cultural factors define them?Rubén Ortega-Álvarez0Alejandro Casas1Dirección Regional Occidente, Investigadoras e Investigadores por México del Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACYT), Guadalajara, Jalisco, MexicoInstituto de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas y Sustentabilidad (IIES) - Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Morelia, Michoacán, MexicoPeople’s interests and needs, as well as biological characteristics of species, determine human perception and interaction with biodiversity. Thus, both cultural and biological factors should be considered to understand biocultural salient species. We studied the cultural and biological traits that influence bird salience for an indigenous community in Mexico. Firstly, we used bird lists mentioned by local people to compute salient indexes for species. Then, we constructed seven cultural association categories to represent the local significance of birds (recreation, beliefs, environment, food, crop damage, economy, pets) and compiled biological information about species (color, size, vocal activity, detectability, abundance, daily activity pattern, habitat, residence status, taxonomic family). Finally, we determined the relations of cultural associations and biological traits with bird salience using hierarchical clusters. We observed a strong link between salient birds and human feeding, as these animals were locally recognized as food and threat to crops. Salient and non-salient birds were differentiated by their residence status and vocal activity, as local awareness was greater towards year-round resident and vocal species. Salience related the most with abundance, followed by color and detectability. Our study provides a route to identify cultural and biological factors influencing biocultural salience, which might prove useful for establishing conservation initiatives, public policies, and environmental education actions.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcosc.2023.1215967/fullabundancecrop damageethnobiologyhierarchical clusterresidence statussalience |
| spellingShingle | Rubén Ortega-Álvarez Alejandro Casas Biocultural salient birds: which biological and cultural factors define them? Frontiers in Conservation Science abundance crop damage ethnobiology hierarchical cluster residence status salience |
| title | Biocultural salient birds: which biological and cultural factors define them? |
| title_full | Biocultural salient birds: which biological and cultural factors define them? |
| title_fullStr | Biocultural salient birds: which biological and cultural factors define them? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Biocultural salient birds: which biological and cultural factors define them? |
| title_short | Biocultural salient birds: which biological and cultural factors define them? |
| title_sort | biocultural salient birds which biological and cultural factors define them |
| topic | abundance crop damage ethnobiology hierarchical cluster residence status salience |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcosc.2023.1215967/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT rubenortegaalvarez bioculturalsalientbirdswhichbiologicalandculturalfactorsdefinethem AT alejandrocasas bioculturalsalientbirdswhichbiologicalandculturalfactorsdefinethem |