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The Spatiotemporal Scale of Ethnobiology: A Conceptual Contribution in the Application of Meta-Analysis and the Development of the Macro-Ethnobiological Approach

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Methods and Techniques in Ethnobiology and Ethnoecology

Part of the book series: Springer Protocols Handbooks ((SPH))

Abstract

From local level ethnobiological research, patterns have been identified in the relationships between human groups and natural resources. Although these patterns are consistent, they are unknown at a wider spatiotemporal scale, as well as the variables and the causal mechanisms that originate them. One of the factors that could be influencing the lack of study of social-ecological patterns is the ignorance of new macro-scale analysis perspectives; as well as the absence of a semantic, conceptual, and analytical framework. For this reason, it is proposed to establish a semantic-conceptual framework of areas in which ethnobiology can be developed at a macro-scale, which is the application of meta-analysis and the development of macro-ethnobiology. Both perspectives develop larger-scale research (space-time) and are based on the analysis of local information (primary information), identify variables, use statistical analysis, and determine processes and patterns by analyzing data heterogeneity. However, both disciplines have different goals, as well as the use of analysis tools. For the adequate development of any of these two approaches in ethnobiology, it is essential to conceptually know the discipline, select the primary information under quality criteria, fulfill with the theoretical assumptions of statistical tests, make an adequate interpretation of data variation and have the support of experts. It is not about proposing new disciplines, but broadening the study approach of ethnobiology, revaluing primary information, analyzing variables together and identifying social-ecological processes and patterns. We consider that on a broader scale, the analysis is workable for the understanding of social-ecological relationships.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Ecología Aplicada, Universidad Autónoma de Tamaulipas, Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas, Mexico

    Tania Vianney Gutiérrez-Santillán, Francisco Reyes-Zepeda, Leonardo Uriel Arellano-Méndez & Arturo Mora-Olivo

  2. Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Centro de Investigación en Biodiversidad y Conservación, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico

    David Valenzuela-Galván

  3. Laboratório de Ecologia e Evolução de Sistemas Socioecológicos, Departamento de Botânica, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil

    Ulysses Paulino Albuquerque

  4. Departamento de Agricultura, Sociedad y Ambiente, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur Unidad San Cristóbal de Las Casas, San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico

    Luis-Bernardo Vázquez

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  1. Tania Vianney Gutiérrez-Santillán
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  2. David Valenzuela-Galván
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  3. Ulysses Paulino Albuquerque
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  4. Francisco Reyes-Zepeda
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  7. Luis-Bernardo Vázquez
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Botânica, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil

    Ulysses Paulino Albuquerque

  2. Departamento de Sistemática e Ecologia, Universidade Federal da Paraiba, João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil

    Reinaldo Farias Paiva de Lucena

  3. Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Católica de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil

    Luiz Vital Fernandes Cruz da Cunha

  4. Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Campina Grande, Brazil

    Rômulo Romeu Nóbrega Alves

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Gutiérrez-Santillán, T.V. et al. (2019). The Spatiotemporal Scale of Ethnobiology: A Conceptual Contribution in the Application of Meta-Analysis and the Development of the Macro-Ethnobiological Approach. In: Albuquerque, U., de Lucena, R., Cruz da Cunha, L., Alves, R. (eds) Methods and Techniques in Ethnobiology and Ethnoecology . Springer Protocols Handbooks. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-8919-5_10

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