The subject provides information on the theoretical basis and practical application of ethnobiology as a scientific field in different contexts of the use and management of wild and domesticated biota (primarily plants) in rural landscapes and urban environments. In particular, documentation of traditional ways of indigenous biota classification, management and conservation (species domestication, management of useful species populations, human-plant-animal interactions) and the process of traditional knowledge acquisition and organization will be discussed. A special emphasis is put on students’ ability to come up with new research ideas, formulate research questions, choose suitable research methods and interpret research results.
Lectures:
- History, approaches and concepts of ethnobiology
- Theories and major hypotheses in ethnobotany
- Methods used to collect ethnobiological data
- Botanical taxonomy vs. plants’ perception and folk classification
- Biota management and domestication
- Factors influencing local biological knowledge
Seminars:
- Seminar project assignment
- Quantitative methods for analyzing ethnobotanical information
- Herbarium curatorial work and collection-based research
- Guest lecture
- Neglected and underutilized species/crops: what are they?
- Homegardens: are they still serving as refuges for tropical plant agrobiodiversity?
Self-study materials include the below literature sources, which will be provided through the online platform, together with interactive study tools.