History of Ethnobiology

Sobral, André; Albuquerque, Ulysses Paulino

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-28155-1_2

Cited by 7 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 13 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…The foods of local and Indigenous peoples have been at the center of much ethnobiological enquiry since the early days of the discipline, as the traditional ecological knowledge surrounding plant and animal food acquisition, processing, and uses is an essential facet of situated people-environment relationships (Anderson et al 2011; Hunn 2007; Sobral and Albuquerque 2016). Historically, much of this work has concentrated on collecting inventories of edible plants and their uses, alongside information about their harvesting and cultivation, and associated social institutions, stories, and spiritual beliefs.…”

Section: Applying a Processual Ethnobiology Perspective To Dietary Ch...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…When McDonald's withdrew in the early 2000s, for instance, headlines and a documentary film circulated internationally announcing "No More 'Fast Food' in Bolivia," the "Nation Rejects Fast Food," and victory of a Bolivian Indigenous food ethic over this multinational corporation (Johnson 2013). While Bolivians maintain complex traditional food systems embedded in values surrounding food provisioning, and as a nation have adopted a strong decolonization agenda, including food sovereignty, ethnobiological enquiry since the early days of the discipline, as the traditional ecological knowledge surrounding plant and animal food acquisition, processing, and uses is an essential facet of situated people-environment relationships (Anderson et al 2011;Hunn 2007;Sobral and Albuquerque 2016). Historically, much of this work has concentrated on collecting inventories of edible plants and their uses, alongside information about their harvesting and cultivation, and associated social institutions, stories, and spiritual beliefs.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Biocultural Diversity, Campesino Kitchens, and Globalization: Ethnobiological Perspectives on Dietary Change in Southern Bolivia

Turner

2019

Journal of Ethnobiology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Widespread reduction in traditional foods has been extensively documented around the world, despite a growing scholarship in ethnobiology and nutrition studies attesting to the value and importance of traditional food systems. A processual ethnobiology approach—one attuned to the historically situated nature of traditional ecological knowledge, and the influence and interplay of micro- and macro-level forces—may offer new insights into processes of dietary change and continuity. Using this perspective, I present a case study from Southern Bolivia on rural peoples' descriptions of how and why their foodways have changed over time, as well as how their traditional food system is being sustained. I draw on data gathered over 12 months through interviews, participation, participant observation, and document review. Animal protein and commercial crop production promotion and discourses disparaging traditional meals are some of the factors affecting availability, affordability, and acceptability of traditional foods. Nevertheless, there are also many examples of how local foods and recipes have been adapted, rather than abandoned, and of promising initiatives rebuilding the prestige and cultural acceptability of traditional foods. These findings suggest a more complex and nuanced process of dietary change than is often posited in the nutrition transition model. Place-specific, historically informed understandings of how attitudes, availability, and other factors have influenced local food systems are needed to develop policies and programs that effectively respond to locally identified concerns surrounding the continuity of traditional food use.

show abstract

Section: Applying a Processual Ethnobiology Perspective To Dietary Ch...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biocultural Diversity, Campesino Kitchens, and Globalization: Ethnobiological Perspectives on Dietary Change in Southern Bolivia

Turner

2019

Journal of Ethnobiology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…However, the role of the people who elaborate and sell the ramos (Spanish for bouquet) on that day, and the associated symbolism has been overlooked. From an etic perspective, which is the researchers’ interpretation of different phenomena [ 10 ], it is understood that the ramos fulfill an ornamental function and that their only use pertains to Catholic celebrations. From an emic perspective, that is to say, the symbolism that the ramos could represent for those who use and trade them, the practice remains little understood.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Palm Sunday in central Mexico: among sellers, palms and syncretism

Briseño-Tellez,

Pulido Silva,

Bautista

et al. 2023

J Ethnobiology Ethnomedicine

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Domingo de Ramos, or Palm Sunday, is a traditional Christian religious event where devotees use ramos, which are bouquets currently elaborated from palm leaves and other natural elements. In various countries, it is assumed this use of biodiversity leads to the depletion of the species involved. However, other important aspects must be considered, including the role of the people who produce and sell these ramos, the associated symbolism that has been overlooked, as well as commercial aspects that have barely been documented. This ethnobotanical study evaluates the regional-scale cultural, biological and socioeconomic aspects associated with Domingo de Ramos in central Mexico from an emic perspective. Methods Ethnographic and commercial information was obtained through interviews with ramos sellers in 28 municipalities in the state of Hidalgo, Mexico. We specifically sought sociodemographic data regarding the interviewees, as well as information pertaining to the ramos themselves and the palms. These aspects were explored with all of the sellers. The free list method was used to describe the uses and key elements associated with the ramos. Results Although the ramos are used for religious purposes, they have eight different uses in the daily life of the sellers, the main one being “protection.” They serve to protect families, crops and animals, as well as against several diseases. Likewise, they are considered valuable for diminishing strong storms. This belief in the protection conferred by the ramos preserves pre-Hispanic concepts and is combined with their use in blessing corresponding to Western beliefs. Ramos are made from 35 introduced and native plant species and comprise a base (made of palm, wheat or sotol), a “reliquia” (palm, rosemary, chamomile and laurel) and natural or artificial flowers. The ramos sellers are mostly adult women of indigenous origin and heads of family. Conclusions This study of Domingo de Ramos, carried out at a regional scale, highlights a syncretism that is reflected in both the symbolic importance of ramos palm and in the species used, as well as socioeconomic aspects that had not previously been identified in the study area and reflect the occurrence of complex relationships in non-timber forest products that remain little addressed.

show abstract

“…The term 'cultural importance' refers to the way people perceive and use an organism either as food or ornament, the role they play in the myths and legends of a region, or even their usage in religious and civic ceremonies (Maldonado Koerdell 1940). This descriptive approach was addressed in the early days of this science, but currently ethnobiology is regarded as an interdisciplinary approach, with a greater cooperation among research from different areas to handle more complex problems where biological and cultural diversity are engaged (Sobral and Albuquerque 2016). Similar to biology, ethnobiology is divided according to the group of organisms studied, and accordingly ethnozoology is the field that studies animals at different levels such as the following: folk taxonomy, presence and importance of animals in tales, myths and legends, their ecological and cultural aspects, and the practices related to the usage, management and conservation of fauna resources .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ethnoacarology: the cultural importance of Acari around the world

Herrera-Mares

2022

Acarologia

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Ethnobiology is the science that identifies, describes, and classifies organisms with a cultural importance that are utilized by a particular human group. The term ‘cultural importance’ refers to the way people perceive an organism either as food or ornament, the role they play in the myths and legends in a region or even their usage in religious and civic ceremonies. Despite the high biological diversity of Acari, their cultural importance has been poorly studied, with information scarce and scattered. In this paper, I define ethnoacarology as the branch of acarology that compiles, documents, and analyzes the cultural values given to mites and ticks by a particular human group. I conducted a bibliographic search in databases with a combination of words: articles were classified according to the cultural values given to Acari. Thirty articles were recovered: most of them focused on the traditional knowledge and management of Acari and tick-borne diseases and other acariasis. I recognized five categories for the cultural value of Acari: 1) vernacular and autochthonous names; 2) management of pests and diseases; 3) Acari in oral and written tradition; 4) Acari and toponymy, and 5) entomophagy and traditional medicine. Citizen science represents an opportunity for acarology to obtain this type of data faster. Making people part of an acarological community could derive in faster data obtention, alternative techniques for the management of pests and diseases, the revalidation of traditional knowledge, and the participation of society in decision-making that can open the door to obtaining financing, among other benefits.

show abstract

History of Ethnobiology

Cited by 7 publications

References 13 publications

Biocultural Diversity, Campesino Kitchens, and Globalization: Ethnobiological Perspectives on Dietary Change in Southern Bolivia

Biocultural Diversity, Campesino Kitchens, and Globalization: Ethnobiological Perspectives on Dietary Change in Southern Bolivia

Palm Sunday in central Mexico: among sellers, palms and syncretism

Ethnoacarology: the cultural importance of Acari around the world

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About