New forms of ecological knowledge acquisition for freshwater mussels' conservation

Abstract

Freshwater mussels are of recognized importance for ecosystem functioning, for the provision of ecosystem services, and for human well-being. Whether people are more concerned about freshwater mussels has a large role to play in promoting and supporting political decisions that protect their habitat. A pilot study was performed in the Midwest of the United States to evaluate the awareness people have about freshwater mussels both native and non-native. Using semi-structured face-to-face interviews, I explore whether ecological knowledge is still in place in the community, and what the relationship is between knowledge, age and urbanization. Multinomial logistic regression has shown that population size and age class are significant predictors of ecological knowledge. Present results suggest that common channels of ecological knowledge transmission have been interrupted long ago. As a result, local ecological knowledge is being substituted by modern ecological knowledge. Nevertheless, new processes of ecological knowledge acquisition emerge. Under this scenario, future management prospects would rely on state institutions which are implementing alternative dissemination pathways in modern socio-ecological systems.