The influence of socioeconomic factors on the knowledge of reptiles and mammals in the Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, Northeast Brazil

A study on Lençóis Maranhenses National Park reveals that locality is the sole socioeconomic factor significantly influencing local knowledge of reptiles and mammals. The research, conducted through semi-structured questionnaires and interviews, documented 36 species (including 53% non-avian reptiles and 47% mammals) across 10 orders, highlighting dietary, medicinal, and conflict-related interactions between residents and fauna. Despite analyzing variables like age, sex, education, and locality, only locality proved significant in shaping traditional faunal knowledge, underscoring the importance of geographic context in ecological understanding.

dos Santos, P. V. C., Ferreira, F. S., & Brito, S. V. (2025). The influence of socioeconomic factors on the knowledge of reptiles and mammals in the Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, Northeast Brazil. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, 21(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-025-00780-6