TY - JOUR

T1 - Shepherds’ local knowledge and scientific data on the scavenging ecosystem service

T2 - Insights for conservation

AU - Morales-Reyes, Zebensui

AU - Martín-López, Berta

AU - Moleón, Marcos

AU - Mateo-Tomás, Patricia

AU - Olea, Pedro P.

AU - Arrondo, Eneko

AU - Donázar, José A.

AU - Sánchez-Zapata, José A.

PY - 2019/1/1

Y1 - 2019/1/1

N2 - Integrating indigenous and local knowledge (ILK) and scientific knowledge (SK) in the evaluation of ecosystem services has been recommended by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. We examined the similarities and contradictions between shepherds’ ILK and SK on the scavenging service provided by vertebrates in Spain. We conducted 73 face-to-face surveys with shepherds to evaluate their ILK. We collected scientific information on 20 scavenger species by monitoring the consumption of 45 livestock carcasses with camera traps. We found a high consistency between ILK and SK regarding the provision of the scavenging service by vertebrates, which was also consistent over the range of shepherd ages and experience. Our findings support the importance of ILK held by shepherds to better understand and to collect information on the scavenging service, particularly at the species level. The integration of ILK and SK into the management strategies of scavengers can benefit the conservation of globally endangered scavengers and the ecosystem services they provide.

AB - Integrating indigenous and local knowledge (ILK) and scientific knowledge (SK) in the evaluation of ecosystem services has been recommended by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. We examined the similarities and contradictions between shepherds’ ILK and SK on the scavenging service provided by vertebrates in Spain. We conducted 73 face-to-face surveys with shepherds to evaluate their ILK. We collected scientific information on 20 scavenger species by monitoring the consumption of 45 livestock carcasses with camera traps. We found a high consistency between ILK and SK regarding the provision of the scavenging service by vertebrates, which was also consistent over the range of shepherd ages and experience. Our findings support the importance of ILK held by shepherds to better understand and to collect information on the scavenging service, particularly at the species level. The integration of ILK and SK into the management strategies of scavengers can benefit the conservation of globally endangered scavengers and the ecosystem services they provide.

KW - Ecosystems Research

KW - Camera trapping

KW - Carrion

KW - Experience

KW - Extensive livestock farming systems

KW - traditional ecological knowledge

KW - Vultures

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85046422152&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1007/s13280-018-1055-6

DO - 10.1007/s13280-018-1055-6

M3 - Journal articles

C2 - 29730793

VL - 48

SP - 48

EP - 60

JO - Ambio

JF - Ambio

SN - 0044-7447

IS - 1

ER -