Ecological Knowledge and Management of Fauna Among the Mexicatl of the Sierra Negra, Mexico: An Interpretive Approach
Por:
Zarazua-Carbajal, Mariana, Chavez-Gutierrez, Michelle, Peña-Mondragón J.L., Casas, Alejandro
Publicada:
13 abr 2022
Resumen:
Generally motivated by the relevance of animals in human subsistence,
the management of fauna has taken different shapes throughout the world.
This study aims to analyse a typology of management forms, exploring
their relationship with the motivation to maintain coexistence and use
of fauna and mitigate negative human-fauna interactions by the Mexicatl
(Nahua) people in Central Mexico. We generally expected to find a broad
spectrum of management types in a gradient of interactions intensity.
This is because we hypothesised that the more meaningful these
interactions due to the magnitude of benefit or damage, philias, or
phobias among other positive or negative perceptions, and ecological
aspects and management viability, the more actions and practices might
be motivated to maintain or mitigate them. We conducted a qualitative
research based on interpretivist approaches, mixing qualitative and
quantitative analyses, to register the Mexicatl names of fauna present
in the area and recognised by locals and to analyse the influence of
local ecological knowledge (LEK) and natural history as perceived by
people on the use, conflicts, and management practices regarding local
fauna. In order to gather such information, in 2018 and 2019 we
generated 356 free lists of fauna and 20 sessions of group interviews
about the presence of animals in the area, the Mexicatl name,
information on distribution, diet, use, management, and other facts. We
used visual stimuli with children and young people from schools of basic
and intermediate levels in five rural communities and the municipal head
of Coyomeapan, Puebla. We also generated free lists and in-depth
interviews with 18 persons older than 16 years. People recognised 114
animal items, the most salient being 11 domestic and 14 wild animals
including deer, medium and small mammals, snakes, and birds. For both
domestic and wild fauna, people reported 18 use categories and three
types of damage (crop losses, predation of domestic animals, and damages
to health). LEK interacted with traditional celebrations, religious
beliefs, land tenure, and migration to define preferences and management
types of fauna. Bushmeat demand, especially for Mazama temama and
Cuniculus paca, was related to a perception of healthy nutrition
properties. Management actions included husbandry of domestic animals,
extraction of wild animals for supply, or to avoid damages, captivity,
tolerance to damage, protection of seeds and domestic animals threatened
by wild fauna, regulations for extraction of wild fauna, and agreements
to prevent conflicts. Mixed quantitative and qualitative approaches
allowed the interpretation of the human-fauna interactions related to
subsistence, coexistence, and the high relevance of LEK, perceptions,
religious beliefs, ecosystem, socio-demographic factors, and animal
behaviour and habits, which are crucial factors that influence the
shaping of management practices. Local management strategies of fauna
were diverse and contribute to biocultural conservation and theoretical
construction on domestication.
Filiaciones:
Zarazua-Carbajal, Mariana:
Laboratorio de Manejo y Evolución de Recursos Genéticos, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas y Sustentabilidad, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Morelia, Mexico
Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Inst Invest Ecosistemas & Sustentabilidad, Lab Manejo & Evoluc Recursos Genet, Morelia, Michoacan, Mexico
Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Posgrad Ciencias Biol, Mexico City, DF, Mexico
Chavez-Gutierrez, Michelle:
Laboratorio de Manejo y Evolución de Recursos Genéticos, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas y Sustentabilidad, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Morelia, Mexico
Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Inst Invest Ecosistemas & Sustentabilidad, Lab Manejo & Evoluc Recursos Genet, Morelia, Michoacan, Mexico
Peña-Mondragón J.L.:
Laboratorio de Manejo y Evolución de Recursos Genéticos, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas y Sustentabilidad, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Morelia, Mexico
Casas, Alejandro:
Laboratorio de Manejo y Evolución de Recursos Genéticos, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas y Sustentabilidad, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Morelia, Mexico
Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Inst Invest Ecosistemas & Sustentabilidad, Lab Manejo & Evoluc Recursos Genet, Morelia, Michoacan, Mexico
gold, All Open Access; Gold
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