Use of mammals in a semi-arid region of Brazil: an approach to the use value and data analysis for conservation

Suellen Da Silva Santos,Reinaldo Farias Paiva De Lucena,Lívia Emanuelle Tavares Mendonça,Hyago Keslley De Lucena Soares,Natalice Santos Sales,Vanessa Moura Dos Santos Soares

doi:10.1186/s13002-019-0313-4

Abstract

BackgroundThis study aimed to survey the knowledge and use of mammals by the residents of the rural community of Capivara in the municipality of Solânea (Paraíba State, Northeast Brazil) and to propose a new method of using the use value as a tool for data analysis in ethnozoological surveys.MethodsThe uses attributed to mammals were recorded through semi-structured interviews conducted with the breadwinners (men and women) living in the community. The species were identified through guided tours, by descriptions made by the interviewees, and using specimens donated by them, as well as by comparison with the pertinent scientific literature (morphological and ecological). Through the use value differentiated analysis, it was possible to distinguish the current use value of the species (effective use) from their potential use value (knowledge, but no effective use) to determine their real importance related to the uses cited by the studied group.ResultsNineteen species were cited; however, only 17 of them were identified and then distributed in 13 families. The other species were identified at the genus level Leopardus sp. and order Rodentia. The species were classified into 6 categories of use: food, captive breeding, zootherapeutic, artisanal, magic/religious, and veterinary purposes.ConclusionsThis article discusses possible conservation solutions, given the irregular exploitation of some species, warning about the biodiversity, and traditional knowledge conservation.

Highlights

This study aimed to survey the knowledge and use of mammals by the residents of the rural community of Capivara in the municipality of Solânea (Paraíba State, Northeast Brazil) and to propose a new method of using the use value as a tool for data analysis in ethnozoological surveys
In the semi-arid region, Albuquerque et al [2] recorded 156 species occurring in the Caatinga. This biome has gotten the attention of researchers focusing on mammal studies, with some specific surveys aimed at obtaining data on the richness, ecology, ethology, physiology, distribution, and taxonomy of species (e.g., [3,4,5,6,7,8,9])
The results presented here show the importance of adopting the UVcurrent in the analysis of ethnobiological data since this use value index (UV) explains the effective use of natural resources and is significantly different from the UVgeneral of the species, based on the Cluster test and onewayANOVA

Summary

Introduction

This study aimed to survey the knowledge and use of mammals by the residents of the rural community of Capivara in the municipality of Solânea (Paraíba State, Northeast Brazil) and to propose a new method of using the use value as a tool for data analysis in ethnozoological surveys. In the semi-arid region, Albuquerque et al [2] recorded 156 species occurring in the Caatinga This biome has gotten the attention of researchers focusing on mammal studies, with some specific surveys aimed at obtaining data on the richness, ecology, ethology, physiology, distribution, and taxonomy of species (e.g., [3,4,5,6,7,8,9]). In order to understand the dynamics of use of the local fauna by the populations, data collection techniques have been diffused and currently used by different researchers Among these techniques, the use value index (UV) stands out as a quantitative method, proposed by Phillips and Gentry [26, 27], in ethnobotanical studies, and adapted by Rossato et al [28].

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