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Human attitudes towards herpetofauna

The influence of folklore and negative values on the conservation of amphibians and reptiles in Portugal

Bibliographic Data

ID4658493
AuthorsLuis Mp Ceríaco (University of Évora, corresponding author)
Year2012
Volume8
Issue1
Pages8-0
Publication date2012-12-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1746-4269 • E-ISSN: 1746-4269
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1186/1746-4269-8-8
PMID22316318
PMCIDPMC3292471
OpenAlexW2110865525
LanguageEN
Citations received56
References cited37

BackgroundHuman values and folklore of wildlife strongly influence the effectiveness of conservation efforts. These values and folklore may also vary with certain demographic characteristics such as gender, age, or education. Reptiles and amphibians are among the least appreciated of vertebrates and are victims of many negative values and wrong ideas resulting from the direct interpretation of folklore. We try to demonstrate how these values and folklore can affect the way people relate to them and also the possible conservation impacts on these animals.MethodsA questionnaire survey distributed to 514 people in the district of Évora, Portugal, was used to obtain data regarding the hypothesis that the existence of wrong ideas and negative values contributes to the phenomenon of human-associated persecution of these animals. A structural equation model was specified in order to confirm the hypothesis about the possible relationships between the presence of perceptions and negative values about amphibians and reptiles and persecution and anti-conservation attitudes. Sociodemographic variables were also added.ResultsThe results of the model suggest that the presence of folklore and negative values clearly predicts persecution and anti-conservation attitudes towards amphibians and reptiles. Also, the existence of folklore varies sociodemographically, but negative values concerning these animals are widespread in the population.ConclusionsWith the use of structural equation models, this work is a contribution to the study of how certain ideas and values can directly influence human attitudes towards herpetofauna and how they can be a serious conservation issue

Archaeology · Biodiversity · Biology · Conservation science · Folklore · Geography · Perception · Persecution · Political science · Population · Sociology · Wildlife · Wildlife conservation · Amphibian and Reptile Biology · Animal and Plant Science Education · Demography · Environmental Education and Sustainability · Plant and animal studies · Psychology · Social Psychology · Ecology

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Unique citing works56
Citations per year4
Citation span2012 - 2026 (15)
Citation velocitycurrent
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 53
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