Of people and toads: Local knowledge about amphibians around a protected area in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

Abstract

This study aimed to identify ethnozoological knowledge about amphibians of people living around a protected area, the Wildlife Refuge of Una (REVIS), located in the Atlantic Forest, in southern Bahia, Brazil. Semi-structured interviews were performed on a random sample of residents right outside the REVIS limits. Photos of several amphibians that live in the REVIS were also shown for recognition of the regional species. We analysed the use value (VU) of each species, calculating the ratio between the number of times that each species was mentioned and the total number of interviews. Biophilic relationships, using Kellert´s (1993) classification, were inferred from their statements. We interviewed 40 individuals (22 males and 18 females) with ages between 10 and 82 years. There was a gender-related bias regarding the recognised species (Chi Sq = 0.013, p < 0.05) with men having more knowledge than women. The Butter Frog, Leptodactylus latrans, had the highest VU of 0.73 and was the most mentioned overall, but especially amongst women. The most mentioned species amongst men was Burmeister’s Frog (Phyllomedusa burmeisteri). We identified 18 biophilic comments, classified as moralistic, symbolic, negativistic or utilitarian. It was possible to note that, in this community, the knowledge and use of amphibians is not deep, purely cognitive and without any direct utilitarian purpose (medicine or cooking, for example). This study can build a bridge between traditional anurofauna knowledge of the Una region and modern environmental education, by demystifying existing information and incorporating it in local conservation actions, becoming especially relevant in rural areas, such as this protected area.

Rural Populations of Alagoinhas and Herpetofauna: Knowledge, Uses and Interactions

“…In this case, it is expected that the relationship would be positive, so that the longer residence time would in uence a greater number of species with con icting relationships. It is possible that the low citation of amphibian species (three) has in uenced the results of this analysis, considering that the species mentioned here have many con icting relationships presented in other studies [21,59,60].…”

¿cuánto Conocemos De Nuestra Fauna Autóctona? Un Estudio Sobre Vertebrados Tetrápodos

“…Sin embargo, este conocimiento es superado para especies con importancia cinegética. Seger et al (2019) encontraron también un vínculo lejano de los pobladores de la Mata Atlántica con los anfibios, a pesar del registro de cierto nivel de conciencia ecológica, evidente cuando los pobladores declararon no matar ranas porque comen insectos o están asociados con la mala suerte. Esto último también lo halló González Hernández (2019) en pobladores rurales del Estado de México, a su vez menciona que las especies más comunes son las más conocidas y las que tienen cierta importancia alimenticia, medicinal o mágico-religiosa.…”