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What Is Ethnobiology?

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Introduction to Ethnobiology

Abstract

Ethnobiology has been defined classically as the study of the interactions of people and the environment. It is in fact a complex field of knowledge and action that interfaces with many scientific disciplines. These interfaces result in different approaches and theoretical challenges. Ethnobiology occupies a privileged position because of its potential to integrate local and global knowledge, to connect cultures and academic approaches, and to relate biological and social aspects of the human experience to the environment.

This chapter is a revised and updated version of the “Introduction” published in the book Ethnobiology and Biodiversity (Albuquerque 2005).

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Notes

  1. 1.

    In this regard, for further debate, see Begossi (1993, 2004) and Alves and Souto (2010). In another chapter of this book, we introduce a discussion on the relationships between ethnobiology and ethnoecology.

  2. 2.

    Tradition: from tradere “deliver, hand over,” from trans- “over” (see trans- ) + dare “to give.” http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=tradition

  3. 3.

    We have already had the opportunity to discuss the use of traditional and local terms (Alves and Albuquerque 2010), and therefore, we invite the interested reader to consult this material.

  4. 4.

    We prefer to use here the terms traditional or local population rather than traditional community. In our view, given that ethnobiology is a field that is close to ecology, it is better to regard the terms “community” and “population” in their ecological sense. Thus, a group of people is faced here (ecologically) as a “population.”

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Applied and Theoretical Ethnobiology, Department of Biology, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Rua Dom Manoel de Medeiros s/n, Dois Irmãos, 52171-900, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil

    Ulysses Paulino Albuquerque

  2. Department of Biology, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Rua Dom Manoel de Medeiros s/n, Dois Irmãos, 52171-900, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil

    Angelo Giuseppe Chaves Alves

Authors
  1. Ulysses Paulino Albuquerque
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  2. Angelo Giuseppe Chaves Alves
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Correspondence to Ulysses Paulino Albuquerque .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil

    Ulysses Paulino Albuquerque

  2. Campina Grande, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Campina Grande, Paraíba, Brazil

    Rômulo Romeu Nóbrega Alves

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Albuquerque, U.P., Alves, A.G.C. (2016). What Is Ethnobiology?. In: Albuquerque, U., Nóbrega Alves, R. (eds) Introduction to Ethnobiology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28155-1_1

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