Methodological advances for hypothesis‐driven ethnobiology

Gaoue, Orou G.; Moutouama, Jacob K.; Coe, Michael A.; Bond, Matthew O.; Green, Elizabeth; Sero, Nadejda B; Bezeng, Bezeng S.; Yessoufou, Kowiyou

doi:10.1111/brv.12752

Cited by 30 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 199 publications

(326 reference statements)

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“…An improvement to our study could be to build networks in which social nodes are individuals rather than types of individuals. The resulting larger set of nodes would allow hypothesis testing (Gaoue et al 2021 ). The rights of individuals, their harvest or use practices, and their knowledge about néré could be analysed to test hypotheses on the flows of rights, benefits, and information (Reyes-García et al 2013 ; Gaoue et al 2017 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In this paper, we explore the social–ecological interactions around the néré tree in West Africa. Several theories and hypotheses have been proposed, for example in ethnobotany, to understand the patterns and processes of human interactions with culturally important species (Gaoue et al 2017 , 2021 ). Here, we contend that local trees play a key role in structuring interactions within human societies and that intersectional determinants (age, gender, ethnicity) and power distribution shape the interactions with and around those trees.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Trees as brokers in social networks: Cascades of rights and benefits from a Cultural Keystone Species

Djoudi

Locatelli

Pehou³

et al. 2022

Ambio

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Indigenous trees play key roles in West African landscapes, such as the néré tree (Parkia biglobosa (Jacq.) R.Br. ex G.Don). We applied social–ecological network analysis to understand the social–ecological interactions around néré. We documented the benefits néré provides and the multiple social interactions it creates amongst a large range of actors. The flows of rights over the trees and benefits from them formed two hierarchical networks, or cascades, with different actors at the top. The two forms of power revealed by the two cascades of rights and benefits suggest possible powers and counter-powers across gender, ethnicity, and age. We documented how the tree catalyses social interactions across diverse groups to sustain vital social connections, and co-constitute places, culture, and relationships. We argue that a paradigm shift is urgently needed to leverage the remarkable untapped potential of indigenous trees and Cultural Keystone Species in current global restoration and climate change agendas.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trees as brokers in social networks: Cascades of rights and benefits from a Cultural Keystone Species

Djoudi

Locatelli

Pehou³

et al. 2022

Ambio

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“…However, taxonomic non-random plant selection was initially suggested almost four decades ago to explain human-plant interactions, particularly for native plants used in traditional medicine [6,41,42]. This was later supported in several other studies, but mostly for native plants used in traditional medicine [8,[43][44][45]. Nonetheless, only a few studies have tested whether this taxonomic signal translates into a phylogenetic signal (e.g., [46,47]).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Are Introduced Alien Species More Predisposed to Invasion in Recipient Environments If They Provide a Wider Range of Services to Humans?

Yessoufou

Ambani

2021

Diversity

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The drivers of invasion success of alien species remain, to some extent, a matter of debate. Here, we suggest that the services (the benefits humans obtain from a species) provided by alien plants could predict their invasion status, such that alien species providing more services would be more likely to be invasive than not. The rationale for this expectation is that alien species providing multiple services stand a better chance of being introduced in various numbers and multiple times outside their native range (propagule pressure theory). We investigated this hypothesis on alien woody species in South Africa. First, we defined 12 services provided by all the 210 known naturalized alien woody plants in South Africa. Then, we tested for a phylogenetic signal in these services using a DNA barcode-based phylogeny. Finally, we tested for potential links between the services and invasion status by fitting GLM models with appropriate error families. We found a phylogenetic signal in most services, suggesting that closely related species tend to provide similar services. Counter-intuitively, we consistently found that alien non-invasive species tend to provide more services, or even unique services, in comparison to alien invasive species. Although alternative scenarios are plausible to explain this unexpected finding, we speculate that harvesting alien plants for human benefits may limit their invasion ability. This warrants further investigation.

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“…Under this model, we consider that Mexican and world ethnobotany are in stage three, with some initial elements of stage four. Recent years have seen several synthetic and theoretical publications (e.g., de Albuquerque & Hanazaki 2009, Hurrell & de Albuquerque 2012, Moreno-Calles et al 2013, Pickersgill 2016, Vibrans 2016, Gaoue et al 2017, Mariaca Méndez et al 2018, Albuquerque et al 2019, Torres-García et al 2019, Albuquerque et al 2020, Clement et al 2021, Gaoue et al 2021, Leonti et al 2020. Some topics, such as domestication and agroecology, derive at least partly from ethnobotany.…”

Section: The Stages Of Ethnobotany As a Branch Of Sciencementioning

confidence: 99%

Roads traveled and roads ahead: the consolidation of Mexican ethnobotany in the new millennium. An essay

Vibrans

Casas

2022

Bot. Sci.

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This work examines the development of ethnobotany, focusing on Mexico in this millennium. How has the discipline grown? What is the relative importance of Spanish? Are there inflection points? How did some select areas develop, and why? Numerical growth was analyzed mainly through Google Scholar queries. Other subjects were treated based on literature and experience of the authors. Spanish continues to be relevant, especially in Mexico. The discipline gained momentum from 2000 onwards because of the social context of the 1990s, the publication of several foundational works, methodological advances, and particularities of Mexican science. The trajectory of ethnobotany is congruent with a model derived from Kuhn’s proposal of cyclical advancement of science: an initial defining stage was followed by a first synthesis, then fast growth of descriptive studies, with a notable recent turn to theory and framework construction. The causes for advances are discussed for three areas (medicinal plants, agriculture, and wild-growing resources). General interest, financing, the consolidation of research groups and the internal organization of institutions have played a role. We highlight important open questions. Ethnobotany is maturing from a descriptive to an analytical stage. However, careful descriptive studies continue to be valuable because the sources of information are in decline, and theory needs an empirical basis. Also, ethnobotany encourages the transmission of knowledge and biocultural memory. It is a key element for integrated sustainability science.

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Methodological advances for hypothesis‐driven ethnobiology

Cited by 30 publications

References 199 publications

Trees as brokers in social networks: Cascades of rights and benefits from a Cultural Keystone Species

Trees as brokers in social networks: Cascades of rights and benefits from a Cultural Keystone Species

Are Introduced Alien Species More Predisposed to Invasion in Recipient Environments If They Provide a Wider Range of Services to Humans?

Roads traveled and roads ahead: the consolidation of Mexican ethnobotany in the new millennium. An essay

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