Papers by Ulysses Albuquerque
PloS one, May 16, 2024
The prestige theory of evolution states that our memory has an intrinsic bias to memorize informa... more The prestige theory of evolution states that our memory has an intrinsic bias to memorize information from someone of prestige. However, the evidence for information recall is mainly focused on content bias. Considering that the prestige bias can be advantageous in selecting information in contexts of uncertainty, this study assessed whether, in the scenario of the COVID-19 pandemic, the prestige bias would be favored over other models that do not possess the prestige spirit characteristics. The study was conducted through an online experiment, where participants were subjected to reading fictitious text, followed by a surprise recollection. Data were analyzed using a generalized linear mixed model, Poisson family, and logistic regression. The results showed that prestige is only prioritized in the recall due to the family model and does not present any difference from the other models tested. However, it influenced the recall of specific information, suggesting its role as a factor of cultural attraction. Furthermore, we observed that trust in science-oriented profiles can influence the recall of information during a health crisis. Finally, this study highlights the complexity of the functioning of the human mind and how several factors can act simultaneously in the recall of information.
Contributions to the Identification of Cultural Keystone Species from an Emic Perspective: a Case Study from Northeast Brazil
Economic botany, Mar 21, 2024
Ethnobiology and Conservation, Mar 7, 2024
As the editors-in-chief of Ethnobiology and Conservation, we would like to highlight significant ... more As the editors-in-chief of Ethnobiology and Conservation, we would like to highlight significant changes implemented to enhance our editorial standards and introduce a new section, the CHECKLIST. In recent years, we have observed an increase in the number of articles submitted for review to the journal. However, it is essential to acknowledge that approximately 60% of these articles undergo desk rejection before entering the peer-review process. This rejection rate underscores the need for a more rigorous review of submission criteria. Ethnobiology and Conservation has established clear criteria for articles to be considered for peer review to ensure the quality and relevance of published articles. These criteria include adherence to editorial guidelines, appropriate formatting, research relevance and impact, and scientific rigor. Stay up-to-date with the latest developments in ethnobiology, and check out the recent proposal documents (see Albuquerque et al. 2023Albuquerque et al. , 2024aAlbuquerque et al. , 2024b;; McAlvay et al. 2021; Vandebroek et al. 2023). These are essential for anyone looking to publish in this area, as they provide clear guidance to best practices for conducting and reporting on ethnobiology research. We draw inspiration and paraphrase Orr and Vandebroek (2023) to provide ten recommendations aimed at facilitating the smooth navigation of the peer-review process for papers submitted to Ethnobiology and Conservation:
Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine, Feb 15, 2024
This opinion piece, written by ethnobiologists from different parts of the world, emphasizes the ... more This opinion piece, written by ethnobiologists from different parts of the world, emphasizes the importance of ethnobiology research in advancing contemporary biology, natural resource management, biodiversity conservation, sustainable development, and, especially, contributing to the ecological transition and more just and inclusive world. To achieve these goals, it is essential to develop research and collaborate with social groups that live in close relationship with nature in research activities, such as Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLC), as well as Afro-descendants and other Marginalized, Minority or Minoritized Communities (AMMC). Ethnobiology can identify and provide locally appropriate solutions to local problems, enabling sustainable resource management at the landscape level. The text explores important aspects that need to be considered to guide the future of ethnobiology in the next 20 years, aiming to integrate and amplify previous discussions held in the discipline and identify points that demand ongoing attention. This paper highlights reflections from diverse researchers, emphasizing how ethnobiology can embrace different perspectives and employ rigorous analysis of complex phenomena toward effective policies and practices. This approach holds the potential to address the challenges the planet is currently facing in the coming decades.
Why is traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) maintained? An answer to Hartel et al. (2023)
Biodiversity and conservation, Jan 30, 2024
Ethnobotany research and applications, Jan 28, 2024
Background: According to cultural evolution theory (CE), the transmission of cultural information... more Background: According to cultural evolution theory (CE), the transmission of cultural information can be subjected to "cultural mutations" (random alteration of information). Cultural mutations can have implications for human culture. However, the contributing factors to the increased/decreased establishment of these processes in local medical systems remain unclear. Thus, we tested the following hypotheses: H1: more conservative transmission modes (vertical transmission) are less prone to cultural mutation; H2: knowledge sharing about a medicinal plant influences the occurrence of cultural mutations in local medical systems; and H3: information on versatile medicinal plants (plants used to treat various ailments) is more likely to undergo cultural mutation in local medical systems. Methods: To test our hypotheses, we conducted a case study in the Lagoa do Junco community, Santana do Ipanema municipality, Alagoas. The data were collected through semistructured interviews with 120 individuals older than 18 years. Analyses utilized a generalized linear model (GLM) with the binomial and Poisson families. Results: We found a lower cultural mutation rate for more conservative transmission modes (p<0.01). Information about more widely shared medicinal plants was more prone to cultural mutations (p<0.001). Versatile medicinal plants are more susceptible to cultural mutations. Conclusions: Less conservative cultural transmission modes promote greater variation in plant-based medicinal systems. Factors such as information sharing and plant versatility, though important in local medical systems, may have implications for human culture, as exemplified by maladaptive cultural traits, and need assessment in future studies.
Ethnobotany research and applications, Jan 28, 2024
Background: In numerous cultures, taste plays a pivotal role in the selection of medicinal plants... more Background: In numerous cultures, taste plays a pivotal role in the selection of medicinal plants by humans. We investigated whether the bitter taste of plants, as perceived by people, influenced the selection of medicinal plants for treating specific ailments. Method: Using the free-listing technique, we documented local knowledge about medicinal plants across five communities within Catimbau National Park, Pernambuco, Brazil. Participants who were older than 18 years and consented to participate in the study shared insights about medicinal plants, therapeutic targets, and taste attributes. The relationship between a plant's taste and the body systems for which it is recommended was analyzed using the chi-square test. Results: A bitter taste was associated with treating specific diseases; addressing ailments of the digestive, respiratory, gastrointestinal, and urogenital systems; infectious and parasitic diseases; and injuries as well as general symptoms and signs. Among the taste attributes reported, bitterness was the most common trait (42.34%), followed by astringent (26.78%), sweet (8.04%), sour (1.84%), and other/not classified (21.24%). In our study, we discovered that bitter taste is intricately linked to the selection of medicinal plants for treating certain ailments. Our findings underscore the significance of bitterness as a crucial factor in identifying plants for disease treatment in the region.
Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, Jan 4, 2024
Ethnobiology and ethnomedicine, traditionally descriptive disciplines chronicling Indigenous Peop... more Ethnobiology and ethnomedicine, traditionally descriptive disciplines chronicling Indigenous People and Local Community (IPLC) practices, face the challenge of incorporating hypothesis-driven research to address contemporary issues. This paper argues for a synergistic approach where both approaches are valued for their unique contributions to understanding human-nature interactions and informing policy.
Ethnobiology and Conservation, Jan 3, 2024
How Do Local Medical Systems Work? An Overview of the Evidence
Economic Botany, Nov 26, 2023
Ethnobiology and Conservation
Ethnobiology is a discipline that deals with understanding the relationship between human beings ... more Ethnobiology is a discipline that deals with understanding the relationship between human beings and biota. The strong interdisciplinary component of ethnobiology allows it to interact with different fields of knowledge. The evolutionary approach in ethnobiology is not completely absent, however it lacks systematization, which has been recently proposed. From this proposal, the evolutionary ethnobiology emerged. This approach studies the relations between human groups and biota from theoretical scenarios of ecology and evolution. Here we present the evolutionary ethnobiology, its key concepts, the theoretical scenarios with which it dialogues.
Congruence Effects on Medicinal Plant Recall: An Evolutionary Perspective
Evolutionary Psychological Science
Frontiers in Environmental Science, Jan 19, 2022
People living in areas vulnerable to diseases caused by extreme climate change events, such as se... more People living in areas vulnerable to diseases caused by extreme climate change events, such as semiarid regions, tend to recognize them quickly and, consequently, develop strategies to cope with their effects. Our study investigated the perception of diseases by farmers living in the semiarid region of Northeastern Brazil and the adaptive strategies locally developed and used. To this end, the effect of the incidence and severity of locally perceived diseases on the frequency of adaptive responses adopted by the farmers was tested. The research was conducted in rural communities in the Pernambuco State, Northeastern Region of Brazil. Semi-structured interviews with 143 farmers were conducted to collect information about major drought and rainfall events, the perceived diseases related to these events, and the adaptive strategies developed to mitigate them. The incidence and severity of diseases perceived by farmers were calculated using the Participatory Risk Mapping method and the ...
High and similar genetic diversity in wild and cultivated populations of the economically important fruit tree Caryocar coriaceum Wittm. in Caatinga
Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution, Jul 23, 2022
Plant and Landscape Local Management
People have long been managing natural resources. This management can consist of two types: commu... more People have long been managing natural resources. This management can consist of two types: community and individual species. Community management can be understood at the landscape level when territory, biotic, and physical components are modeled, as well as their interactions and processes. Individual species management is well documented for semidomesticated plant species under domestication processes, particularly in the Mesoamerican region. Different management types (community and individual species) can be observed in agroforestry systems, which are land-use forms in which there is high biocultural diversity. These systems, which are widespread in tropical regions, maintain natural vegetation components through local management practices.
RESUMO: Cardiospermum sp. é uma trepadeira comum em ambientes antropizados, por isso, estudos ten... more RESUMO: Cardiospermum sp. é uma trepadeira comum em ambientes antropizados, por isso, estudos tentam controlar suas populações por considerarem estas trepadeiras uma espécie invasora. A coleta das sementes foi realizada numa área de cultivo. Posteriormente, foi observada a presença/ausência de evidências de predação e, logo após, foi aferida a massa fresca e a mensurado o diâmetro, para distribuir as sementes em intervalos de classe. Foram coletadas 609 sementes, sendo 532 sem evidências e 77 com evidências, ou seja, 13% apresentaram sinais de predação pré-dispersão. As sementes sem evidências de predação apresentaram médias de massa fresca 28,597mg e de diâmetro de 3,693 mm, enquanto as sementes com evidência de predação apresentaram médias de massa fresca de 23,244mg e de diâmetro de 3,711 mm. 82% das sementes com evidência de predação e 70% das sementes sem evidência estiveram no intervalo C de 3,5 a 3,9mm. Os resultados indicam que o tamanho mais frequente é também o mais frequentemente predado. Porém, ainda se fazem necessários mais estudos no semiárido sobre a predação em sementes de Cardiospermum sp. para se entender a dinâmica populacional desta trepadeira em áreas antropizadas.
Latin American and Caribbean Bulletin of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, 2010
Proyecto académico sin fines de lucro, desarrollado bajo la iniciativa de acceso abierto www.sabe... more Proyecto académico sin fines de lucro, desarrollado bajo la iniciativa de acceso abierto www.saber.ula.ve/avancesenquimica
Padronização botânica de Capraria biflora L. (Scrophulariaceae)
Acta Farmacéutica Bonaerense, 2001
Estudo Farmacobotanico de Espécies Usadas no Tratamento do Diabetes
Acta farmacéutica bonaerense, 2000
Ethnobiology or Ethnoecology?
Ethnobiology and ethnoecology form a hybrid knowledge field, which is marked by interfaces involv... more Ethnobiology and ethnoecology form a hybrid knowledge field, which is marked by interfaces involving the natural and social sciences. In addition, it is directly related to local cultural knowledge and practices and efforts for nature conservation. Thus, a quite complex and rich epistemological scenario is present. In this context of porous boundaries between disciplines, it is not correct to state that ethnobiology is part of ethnoecology, or vice versa. These areas are connected and are not related by inclusion or opposition, but by complementarity.
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Papers by Ulysses Albuquerque