Can indigenous peoples be relied on to gather reliable environme... (f plants that animals feed on and markin...)

Can indigenous peoples be relied on to gather reliable environmental data?

Date:10/13/2011

f plants that animals feed on and marking their observations on a map.

The training was not without its challenges. Many of the older villagers were expert bushmen, but could not read, write or do arithmetic. Many of the younger villagers, who had received some formal education, were literate but lacked knowledge of the animals and plants in the wilds around their communities. So researchers paired younger and older villagers to go into the field together. All the villagers were paid for the work they did.

Part of any scientific study is validating the accuracy of the data and Fragoso's team knew that no matter how well they trained their indigenous technicians, they would have to analyze the data for errors and possible fabrications.

The researchers used a variety of methods, including having a different team of technicians or researchers walk some transects a second time, to verify that they were regularly walked by technicians, that data were accurate and that reported animal sightings were plausible. They also had technicians fill out monthly questionnaires about their work and did statistical analyses for patterns of discrepancy in the data.

The most consistently accurate data was recorded by technicians in communities that had strong leadership and that were part of a larger indigenous organization, such as an association of villages. Fabricated data was most common among technicians from villages unaffiliated or loosely affiliated with such an association, where there was less oversight.

The other main factor was whether a technician's interest in the work went beyond a salary, whether he was interested in acquiring knowledge.

After all the data verification was done, the researchers found that on average, the indigenous technicians were every bit as able to systematically record accurate data as trained scientists. They were also probably better than
'/>"/>

Contact: Louis Bergeron
louisb3@stanford.edu
650-725-1944
Stanford University
Source:Eurekalert

0

GOOD

Page: 1 2 3
Related biology news :

1. Indigenous peoples at world summit to share climate change observations, coping techniques
2. Scientists aim to bring indigenous people into climate change monitoring and policy
3. Winter sports threaten indigenous mountain birds
4. Tuberculosis strain in indigenous communities linked to Canadian fur trade
5. Subsistence Economies of Indigenous North American Societies: A Handbook
6. Observations of climate change from indigenous Alaskans
7. Forest peoples rights key to reducing emissions from deforestation
8. Global science community to gather in Mozambique
9. Scientists gather to protect global food security from return of devastating wheat fungus
10. Swine flu experts gather at New York Academy of Sciences May 28
11. Experts gather at McGill University to address food security challenges

Post Your Comments:

(Date:6/18/2013)... , June 19, 2013 Paris Air ... as Geotest-Marvin Test Systems) , a leading provider ... aerospace industries, is demonstrating its solutions this week ... booth 3-C82. With growing challenges including increasingly complex ... demanding efficient, feature-rich, specialized aerospace test solutions that ...

(Date:6/18/2013)... of Medicine have discovered a mechanism that is used ... component of blood typically associated with clotting, were discovered ... seal it off from the rest of the body. ... this week, provide the science community with a ... known that platelets do participate in immunity, but now ...

(Date:6/18/2013)... Department,s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), and the ... describing a novel cellulose-degrading enzyme from a marine ... as the gribble. , Gribbles are biologically ... to produce their own enzymes instead of using ... eat. New biomass-degrading enzymes from novel sources such ...

Breaking Biology News(10 mins):Marvin Test Solutions Demonstrates Next-Generation Armament Test Solutions at Paris Air Show 2 Marvin Test Solutions Demonstrates Next-Generation Armament Test Solutions at Paris Air Show 3 Immunity mechanism discovered 2 Novel enzyme from tiny gribble could prove a boon for biofuels research 2

[0] Marvin Test Solutions Demonstrates Next-Generation Armament Test Solutions at Paris Air Show [0] Immunity mechanism discovered [0] Novel enzyme from tiny gribble could prove a boon for biofuels research

... Many would assume that "mounting an immune response" or ... thing. Now, research at the University of California, ... inflammation associated with the progression of tumors actually plays ... , The research, appearing online March 19 in advance ...

... eco-friendly, clean-burning fuel. But if every vehicle in the ... instead of pure gasoline, the number of respiratory-related deaths ... study by Stanford University atmospheric scientist Mark Z. Jacobson. ... edition of the journal Environmental Science & Technology (ES&T). ...

... the world's most endangered cat, the Amur or Far Eastern ... to 34 are left in the wild, renewing fears for ... World Wildlife Fund along with the Wildlife Conservation Society and ... Science, conducted a routine snow-track census of leopard numbers. ...

Cached Biology News:Inflammation may play role in metastasis of prostate cancer 2 Inflammation may play role in metastasis of prostate cancer 3 Ethanol vehicles pose a significant risk to human health, study finds 2 Ethanol vehicles pose a significant risk to human health, study finds 3 Amur leopard still on the brink of extinction, scientists say 2

Inflammation may play role in metastasis of prostate cancer Ethanol vehicles pose a significant risk to human health, study finds Amur leopard still on the brink of extinction, scientists say

(Date:6/18/2013)... , June 18, 2013 Techne Corporation (NASDAQ: ... it has agreed to acquire 100% ownership of ... Inc. (Bionostics). Bionostics is a global leader in ... that verify the proper operation of in ... point of care blood glucose and blood gas ...

(Date:6/18/2013)... 2013 As a leading provider ... announces the release of their infographic - " ... , MeMD's goal was to leverage an information ... 2.0, Health 3.0 and mHealth.The infographic features a ... care and the fitness industry in unimaginable ways; ...

(Date:6/18/2013)... (PRWEB) June 18, 2013 ... automated system for rapid bacterial strain typing, announced ... joined the company as Vice President of Engineering. ... for the company’s RESOLUTION™ Microbial Genotyping System ... the benchtop instrument, pathogen-specific assay kits, database and ...

(Date:6/18/2013)... June 18, 2013 Kitware , ... announces a new Fast-Track award from the U.S. Department ... environment (IDAE) for the nuclear power industry. , Construction ... more than 30 years, but the United States’ nuclear ... gains in power plant utilization through improved refueling, maintenance, ...

Breaking Biology Technology:Techne Corporation Announces Acquisition Agreement 2 Techne Corporation Announces Acquisition Agreement 3 Techne Corporation Announces Acquisition Agreement 4 Techne Corporation Announces Acquisition Agreement 5 MeMD, Inc Releases Infographic Featuring the Top Eight Technologies that are Revolutionizing Health and Fitness Today 2 PathoGenetix Hires Technology Development VP for Resolution Microbial Genotyping System 2 PathoGenetix Hires Technology Development VP for Resolution Microbial Genotyping System 3 Kitware to Develop an Open-Source HPC Design-Analysis Environment for Nuclear Energy Research 2

[0] Techne Corporation Announces Acquisition Agreement [0] MeMD, Inc Releases Infographic Featuring the Top Eight Technologies that are Revolutionizing Health and Fitness Today [0] PathoGenetix Hires Technology Development VP for Resolution Microbial Genotyping System [0] Kitware to Develop an Open-Source HPC Design-Analysis Environment for Nuclear Energy Research

... International Associates Inc.,administrator for the HealthShares(TM) Indexes, a ... Funds, today announced the,quarterly rebalancing of the Indexes. ... the Indexes effective before the opening of trading ... Index (HHA) Drop GW Pharmaceuticals, Inc ...

... Mass., March 20 Interleukin,Genetics, Inc. (Amex: ILI ... and webcast on Thursday, March 27, 2008 at 4:30 ... end 2007 financial results and provide an,update on recent ... 877-440-5803 (domestic) or 719-325-4900,(international). The live webcast will be ...

... (Nasdaq:,BIOD) today announced that Gerard Michel, Chief Financial Officer, ... present a,corporate update at the BioCentury Future Leaders Conference ... The conference will be held at,the Millennium Broadway Hotel ... parties may access a link to a live webcast ...

QED International Associates Announces Quarterly Rebalancing of HealthShares(TM) Indexes (As Revised)Interleukin Genetics Announces Conference Call and Webcast to Discuss Fourth Quarter and Year End 2007 Business Results Biodel Inc. to Present at the BioCentury Future Leaders Conference on March 27th, 2008

Contains L-glutamine...

... does not share significant homology with ... is expressed in the central nervous ... stomach. One important role PEBP ... activity against several serine proteases including ...

...

Highly sensive assay for detecting apoptosis in living cells. See detailed descriptions above in K250-25....

Biology Products:

GIBCO BGJb Medium (Fitton-Jackson Modification) (1X) liquid from Invitrogen Anti-PEBP Polyclonal Antibody, unconjugated, Clone ZLK.17 from Invitrogen TriContinentMultiWash III from Femto Scientific MitoCapture Apoptosis Detection Kit from BioVision