Conceptual issues in hominin taxonomy: Homo heidelbergensis and an ethnobiological reframing of species.

Efforts to name and classify Middle Pleistocene Homo, often referred to as "Homo heidelbergensis" are hampered by confusing patterns of morphology but also by conflicting paleoanthropological ideologies that are embedded in approaches to hominin taxonomy, nomenclature, and the species concept. We deconstruct these issues to show how the field's search for a "real" species relies on strict adherence to pre-Darwinian essentialist naming rules in a post-typological world. We then examine Middle Pleistocene Homo through the framework of ethnobiology, which examines on how Indigenous societies perceive, classify, and name biological organisms. This research reminds us that across human societies, taxonomies function to (1) identify and classify organisms based on consensus pattern recognition and (2) construct a stable nomenclature for effective storage, retrieval and communication of information. Naming Middle Pleistocene Homo as a "real" species cannot be verified with the current data; and separating regional groups into distinct evolutionary lineages creates taxa that are not defined by readily perceptible or universally salient differences. Based on ethnobiological studies of this kind of patterning, referring to these hominins above the level of the species according to their generic category with modifiers (e.g., "European Middle Pleistocene Homo") is consistent with observed human capabilities for cognitive differentiation, is both necessary and sufficient given the current data, and will allow for the most clear communication across ideologies going forward.

Folk taxonomy and indigenous names for frogs in Zululand, South Africa.

BACKGROUND: We use taxonomy to organize the world into recognizable units. Folk taxonomy deals with the naming and classification of organisms through culture. Unlike its scientific counterpart, folk taxonomy is mostly undocumented, the Zoological Code of Nomenclature does not regulate it, and the resulting names are specific to each culture. A growing body of literature is steadily shedding light on the principles underlying this pre-scientific taxonomy. Vernacular names can be an instrument to increase participation of non-scientists in biodiversity matters. In South Africa, great strides have been made in standardizing and increasing relatability of vernacular amphibian names in English and Afrikaans. However, there is a need to achieve the same with the country's autochthonous languages which are used by a majority of the population. METHODS: This study investigates amphibian-related folk taxonomy using a semi-structured interview process in KwaZulu-Natal's Zululand region and  pilots methods of applying folk taxonomy principles to compile a comprehensive list of standardized indigenous frog names. RESULTS: Folk taxonomy in Zululand is systematic, developed, and bears similarities to other indigenous taxonomies around the world. Similarities also exist between folk and scientific taxonomy. Six uninomial indigenous names were found to be used for the 58 amphibian species occurring in the study area. The 58 species were assigned individual indigenous names using folk taxonomy guidelines supplemented with guidelines for modern taxonomies. CONCLUSIONS: There is a gap in the documentation and investigation of amphibian folk taxonomy in South Africa. Standardization of indigenous frog names is required to increase their universality. Similarities between folk and modern taxonomies allow for supplementation of indigenous guidelines when compiling a comprehensive indigenous species list. Through this study, social inclusion in wildlife matters is increased, indigenous knowledge systems are promoted, and a contribution is made to the development of an indigenous South African language.

Constitution of ethnozoological semantic domains: meaning and inclusiveness of the lexeme "insect" for the inhabitants of the county of Pedra Branca, Bahia State, Brazil

This article deals with the sociocultural construction of the 'insect' and 'animal' domains by the inhabitants of the county of Pedra Branca (municipality of Santa Terezinha, Bahia State, Brazil). The fieldwork was performed from September 2006 to July 2007. The data was obtained by means of open-ended interviews of 74 individuals of both genders whose ages ranged from 4 to 89 years old. The results show that the interviewees were unable to say in an accurate and secure way a specific definition for each domain. Depending on how a given animal is culturally interpreted, it could belong to the semantic domain 'animal' or 'insect', being representative of one or another group. However, in practice, such a distinction between these two semantic domains appears as something tenuous and ambiguous. Researchers who carry out biodiversity inventories should pay attention to the ethnocategory 'insect' during their studies, especially if these involve the participation of traditional community representatives.

Este artigo discute a construção sociocultural dos domínios 'inseto' e 'animal' pelos moradores do povoado de Pedra Branca (município de Santa Terezinha, Estado da Bahia, Brasil). O trabalho de campo foi realizado de setembro de 2006 a julho de 2007. Os dados foram obtidos por meio de entrevistas semi-estruturadas com 74 indivíduos de ambos os gêneros, cujas idades variam de 4 a 89 anos. Os resultados mostram que os entrevistados não foram capazes de emitir uma definição segura para cada domínio. Dependendo de como um dado animal é culturalmente interpretado, ele poderá pertencer ao domínio semântico 'animal' ou 'inseto', sendo representante de um ou outro grupo. No entanto, na prática, a distinção entre esses dois domínios linguísticos parece algo ambíguo e tênue. Pesquisadores que realizam inventários de biodiversidade deveriam prestar atenção à etnocategoria 'inseto' durante seus estudos, especialmente se eles envolvem a participação de moradores de comunidades tradicionais.

Plantas, suelos y paisajes: ordenamientos de la naturaleza por los indígenas Miraña de la Amazonía colombiana / Plants, soils and landscapes: sorting of nature by the Miraña Indians of Colombian Amazon

Con base en información obtenida sobre los nombres de todas las plantas con DAP > 2.5 cm (Diámetro a la Altura del Pecho, medido a una altura de 1.3 m) dentro de 30 parcelas de 0.1 ha cada una, y sobre los suelos, la vegetación y el paisaje a lo largo de 8 transectos (entre 2 y 5 km de longitud cada uno), se describen los aspectos más importantes sobre la taxonomía botánica y el ordenamiento o jerarquización del medio ambiente desde la perspectiva de los Indígenas Miraña de la Amazonía central colombiana. A pesar de la pérdida cultural, algunos pocos ancianos guardan como parte de su tradición oral, los elementos básicos de un sistema complejo de conocimiento de su ambiente natural. Se detectó un alto grado de conocimiento sobre las especies vegetales silvestres, la existencia de sistemas nomenclaturales para éstas y para los suelos, y un reconocimiento organizado de paisajes fisiográficos y tipos de vegetación.

We describe the most important aspects of Miraña's plant taxonomy, and landscape categorization. Data about plants' names (in 30 plots of 0.1 ha), was gathered from all individual plants with DBH > 2.5 cm (Diameter at Breast High, or 1.3 m above ground), and data about soils, forest types and landscapes was (in 8 transects of 2-5 km long each) was gathered from 8 transects of 2-5 km long each. In spite of cultural lost, complex knowledge about natural environment classification, it is present into the oral tradition keep in some elders' mind. We detected a high level of knowledge about wild plants, the presence of nomenclatural systems for plants and soil types, and organized landscapes and forest types systems.