Bates / Tucker Human Ecology

Contemporary Research and Practice
2010
ISBN: 978-1-4419-5701-6
Verlag: Springer US
Format: PDF
Kopierschutz: 1 - PDF Watermark

E-Book, Englisch, 377 Seiten

This book arose from the need to develop accessible research-based case study material which addresses contemporary issues and problems in the rapidly evolving field of human ecology. Academic, political, and, indeed, public interest in the environmental sciences is on the rise. This is no doubt spurred by media coverage of climate change and global warming and attendant natural disasters such as unusual drought and flood conditions, toxic dust storms, pollution of air and water, and the like. But there is also a growing intellectual awareness of the social causes of anthropogenic environmental impacts, political vectors in determining conser- tion outcomes, and the role of local representations of ecological knowledge in resource management and sustainable yield production. This is reflected in the rapid increase of ecology courses being taught at leading universities in the fa- growing developing countries much as was the case a decade or two ago in Europe and North America. The research presented here is all taken from recent issues of Human Ecology: An Interdisciplinary Journal. Since the journal itself is a leading forum for cont- porary research, the articles we have selected represent a cross-section of work which brings the perspectives of human ecology to bear on current problems being faced around the world. The chapters are organized in such a way to facilitate the use of this volume either to teach a course or to introduce an informed reader to the field.

Daniel Bates is the editor-in-chief of the journal Human Ecology.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Tucker, Judith

Bates, Daniel G.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

1;Preface;5
2;Contents;7
3;Contributors;10
4;Introduction;14
4.1;Human Ecology Today;17
4.2;The Nature of Ecological Systems;17
4.2.1;The Components of the Ecosystem;18
4.3;The Distinctiveness of Human Ecology;19
5;Section I Theory, Method, and Explanation in Human Ecology;23
5.1;Explaining Indonesian Forest Fires: Both Ends of the Firestick;28
5.1.1;Introduction;28
5.1.2;Ignition Studies: Problems, Needs, and Applications;28
5.1.3;Studying Fire Susceptibility and Fire Behavior: Problems, Needs, and Applications;36
5.1.4;Interdisciplinary Research and the Human Dimension;38
5.1.5;Concluding Remarks;41
5.1.6;Bibliography;41
5.2;On the Notions of Mother Nature and the Balance of Nature and Their Implications for Conservation;47
5.2.1;Introduction;47
5.2.2;Mother Nature;47
5.2.2.1;Mother Nature as Deity and Metaphor;49
5.2.3;Balance of Nature;50
5.2.3.1;Ecological Communities;52
5.2.3.2;Ecosystems;53
5.2.3.3;Landscape Ecology: The Paradigm Shift and the Nonequilibrium View;54
5.2.4;Balance of Nature and Mother Nature in Conservation;56
5.2.5;Conclusion;57
5.2.6;Bibliography;58
5.3;Hunter–Gatherers Optimize Their Foraging Patterns Using Lévy Flights;61
5.3.1;Introduction;61
5.3.2;Lévy Flights;62
5.3.3;The Ju/’Hoansi: Human Foragers;63
5.3.4;Materials and Methods;64
5.3.5;Results;65
5.3.5.1;Normal Distribution;67
5.3.5.2;Uniform Distribution;68
5.3.5.3;Exponential Distribution;68
5.3.6;Discussion;69
5.3.7;Summary;73
5.3.8;Bibliography;73
5.4;What is Biocultural Diversity? A Theoretical Review;76
5.4.1;Introduction;76
5.4.2;Interpretations of Biocultural Diversity;77
5.4.2.1;The Role of “Indigenous” and “Local” People;77
5.4.2.2;Moving Beyond the Realm of “Indigenous” and “Local” People;78
5.4.2.3;Extending the Significance of the Concept of Biocultural Diversity;79
5.4.3;Culture;80
5.4.4;Cultural Values of the Natural Environment;81
5.4.5;Implications for Biocultural Diversity Conservation in Developing Countries;82
5.4.6;Bibliography;84
5.5;The Conservation Catch-22: Indigenous Peoples and Cultural Change;87
5.5.1;Introduction;87
5.5.2;A Conservation Catch-22;88
5.5.3;Conservation and Common Property;89
5.5.4;The Huaorani Case;90
5.5.5;Western Culture as Both Problem and Solution;92
5.5.6;Conclusions;93
5.5.7;Bibliography;94
5.6;Does Environmental Talk Equal Environmental Knowledge? An Example from Newfoundland;96
5.6.1;Introduction;96
5.6.2;The Newfoundland Case Study;97
5.6.2.1;Traditional Newfoundland Styles of Speech;97
5.6.2.2;Local Environmental Skepticism and the Sociopolitical Environment of Newfoundland;99
5.6.2.3;Does Cod Spawn During Winter Fishery?;99
5.6.2.4;Are Seals to Blame?;100
5.6.2.5;Are Shrimp Small?;100
5.6.3;Conclusion;103
5.6.4;Bibliography;103
6;Section II Dynamics of Local Food Procurement Systems;108
6.1;Tracking the Carbon Footprint of Paleolithic Societies in Mediterranean Ecosystems;115
6.1.1;Introduction;115
6.1.2;Paleolithic Background;117
6.1.3;Humans as Large Mammal Predators;118
6.1.4;Variation in Prey Body Size, Biomass and Diet Breadth;119
6.1.5;Technological Efficiency and Managed Risk;120
6.1.6;Cultural Conservatism Versus Volatility;124
6.1.7;Connectedness and Resilience in Paleolithic Systems;126
6.1.8;Bibliography;127
6.2;Burning and Hunting in Australia’s Western Desert;132
6.2.1;Introduction;132
6.2.2;Background and Methods;133
6.2.2.1;Foraging Follows;134
6.2.2.2;Burning Regimes and Habitat Mosaic;135
6.2.3;Results;136
6.2.3.1;Hunt Types and Sex Differences;136
6.2.3.2;Burning and Hunting Efficiency;137
6.2.3.3;Habitat Mosaic and Hunting Efficiency;138
6.2.4;Discussion;138
6.2.4.1;The Issue of Variability in Hunting and Burning Strategies;138
6.2.4.2;The Issue of Land Management;140
6.2.4.3;The Issue of Policy Development;142
6.2.5;Bibliography;143
6.3;The Wild Yam Question: Evidence from Baka Foraging in the Northwest Congo Basin;148
6.3.1;Introduction;148
6.3.2;The Baka Hunter–Gatherers;149
6.3.3;Methods;150
6.3.4;The Molongo in 2002;151
6.3.5;Potential of D. praehensilis as the Key Factor for Sustainable Molongo;154
6.3.6;Conclusion;156
6.3.7;Bibliography;156
6.4;Life Without Pigs: Decisions, Community Action, and Subsistence Changes Among the Irakia Awa, Papua New Guinea;160
6.4.1;Introduction;160
6.4.2;Assessing the Present and Planning the Future;162
6.4.3;Pigs and Highland Societies in New Guinea;164
6.4.4;The Irakia Awa and Their Pigs;165
6.4.5;The Change;166
6.4.6;Life Without Pigs;168
6.4.7;Altered Irakian Gardening Strategies;169
6.4.8;Changes in Non-subsistence Related Activities;171
6.4.9;Conclusion;173
6.4.10;Bibliography;174
6.5;Food Security and Pastoralism in the Northern Sahel;177
6.5.1;Introduction;177
6.5.2;The Data;178
6.5.3;The Study Area;179
6.5.4;Tuareg Subsistence Strategies;179
6.5.4.1;Pastoralism;179
6.5.4.2;Gathering;180
6.5.4.3;Agriculture;180
6.5.5;Tuareg Social Organization;181
6.5.5.1;The Division of Labor;181
6.5.5.2;Changes in Stratification and Division of Labor;182
6.5.5.3;Household Size and Composition;183
6.5.6;Food Security, Consumption Patterns, and Ecological Adaptation;184
6.5.7;Nomads and Agriculturalists;184
6.5.8;Shifting Adaptations;186
6.5.9;Conclusions;187
6.5.10;Bibliography;188
7;Section III Agricultural Intensification and Large-Scale Population Dynamics;191
7.1;Labor Productivity and Agricultural Development: Testing Boserup;198
7.1.1;Introduction;198
7.1.2;Comparative Study of Labor Productivity in Rice Agriculture;199
7.1.2.1;Concepts;199
7.1.2.2;Unit of Analysis;201
7.1.2.3;Variables;202
7.1.2.4;Universe and Sample;206
7.1.3;Results;206
7.1.3.1;Limits to Generalization;209
7.1.4;Agricultural Development;209
7.1.5;Division of Labor, Surplus, and Labor Productivity;210
7.1.6;Conclusions;211
7.1.7;Bibliography;212
7.2;Following Netting: The Cultural Ecology of Viliui Sakha Households in Post-Soviet Siberia;215
7.2.1;Introduction;215
7.2.2;Having What it Takes: The Demands of Keeping Cowsin the Subarctic;217
7.2.3;Research Methods;219
7.2.4;Results: Interhousehold Cows-and-Kin Dependencies;220
7.2.4.1;The Centrality of Kin;221
7.2.5;Cows-and-Kin and Netting;222
7.2.6;Conclusion;224
7.2.7;Bibliography;224
7.3;Adaptive Responses to Environmental and Sociopolitical Change in Southern Zambia;226
7.3.1;Introduction;226
7.3.2;Background to Study Site;227
7.3.3;Methods;228
7.3.4;The Socioecological Context of Gwembe Life;229
7.3.4.1;Climatic Factors;229
7.3.4.2;The Unpredictability of Zambia’s Political Economy;230
7.3.4.3;Uncertainties in the Relationship to Land;231
7.3.5;Recurring Patterns;232
7.3.5.1;Resource Exploitation;233
7.3.5.2;Class Differentiation and Social Change;234
7.3.6;Conclusion;234
7.3.7;Bibliography;235
7.4;Social and Environmental Impacts of the Rise and Fall of Flue-Cured Tobacco Production in the Copán Valley;238
7.4.1;Introduction;238
7.4.2;Case Study: Flue-Cured Tobaccoo in the Copán Valley;240
7.4.3;Flue-Cured Tobacco;241
7.4.4;Golden Years: The Boom in Flue Cured Tobacco, 1955–1985;243
7.4.5;Human Ecology of Tobacco: Environmental and Social Effects;244
7.4.5.1;Deforestation;244
7.4.5.2;Agrochemical Use;248
7.4.5.3;Social Effects;249
7.4.6;The Boom Goes Bust: The Decline of Flue-Cured Tobacco, 1985–1995;250
7.4.7;Conclusions;252
7.4.8;Bibliography;253
7.5;Does Climate Change Affect War Frequency? The Case of Eastern China;256
7.5.1;Introduction;256
7.5.2;Study Area;257
7.5.3;Climate Change and Social Stability;257
7.5.4;Methodology and .Data;259
7.5.4.1;Warfare Data;259
7.5.4.2;Temperature Data;259
7.5.4.3;Population Data;261
7.5.5;Results and Analyses;261
7.5.5.1;Temperature and War Cycles;261
7.5.5.2;Correlations Between Temperature War and Frequency;262
7.5.5.3;Population Dynamics in Face of Climate Changes;265
7.5.5.4;The Fall of Ming Dynasty;267
7.5.6;Discussion and Conclusion;269
7.5.7;Bibliography;271
8;Section IV Common Property Management, Conservation, and Development;274
8.1;Local Knowledge and Changing Subsistence Strategies in James Bay, Canada;281
8.1.1;Introduction;281
8.1.2;Complex Systems and Indigenous Knowledge;282
8.1.3;Study Context and Methods;283
8.1.4;The Goose Hunt, Variability, Unpredictability, and Change;283
8.1.4.1;Changes in Goose Behavior;285
8.1.4.2;“In the Bush, Everything Changes, Not Just the Geese”;287
8.1.5;Discussion and Conclusions;292
8.1.6;Bibliography;293
8.2;After the Cochabamba Water War of 2000: A Common Pool Resource Institution in the Urban Andes;296
8.2.1;Introduction;296
8.2.2;Sustainability and Vulnerability in Common Pool Resource (CPR) Institutions;297
8.2.3;Water Provision and Scarcity in the City of Cochabamba;298
8.2.4;Methods;300
8.2.5;Villa Israel, Cochabamba;300
8.2.6;How Villa Israel’s Water Institution Functions;301
8.2.6.1;Autonomy, Ownership, and Access;301
8.2.6.2;Proportionality, Uniformity, and Contiguity in Water Distribution;302
8.2.6.3;Equivalence of Costs and Benefits at the Household Level;303
8.2.6.4;Regularity and Transparency in a Highly Stressed Urban Water System;304
8.2.7;Sustainability of Institutional Rules During Periods of Water Scarcity;305
8.2.8;Sustainability of Nested Institutions During Periods of Stress;306
8.2.8.1;Neighborhood Council;306
8.2.8.2;Social Networks;308
8.2.9;Discussion and Conclusions;310
8.2.10;Bibliography;312
8.3;Gender, Social Difference and Coastal Resource Management in Lowland Philippine Fishing Communities;315
8.3.1;Introduction;315
8.3.2;The Research Setting;316
8.3.2.1;CRMP in San Vicente;317
8.3.3;CRMP Initiatives and Social Divisions in the Lowland Philippines;318
8.3.3.1;Illegal Commercial Fishing in Municipal Waters;319
8.3.3.2;Compressor-Aided Fishing;319
8.3.3.3;Marine Protected Areas;320
8.3.3.4;Gear Issues;321
8.3.4;Discussion;322
8.3.5;Bibliography;326
8.4;Causes of Deforestation in Central Maine, USA;328
8.4.1;Introduction;328
8.4.2;Maine and its Forests;329
8.4.3;Maine Forest Landowners;329
8.4.4;The Economics of the Forest Products Industry;330
8.4.4.1;Heavy Harvesting in the 1970s to the 1990s;331
8.4.4.2;The Paper Companies in Northern Maine: Economic Pressures and Cost Cutting;331
8.4.4.3;Industrial Downsizing, Forest Divestment and Liquidation Cuts;332
8.4.5;Deforestation After 2000: The Central Maine Situation;333
8.4.5.1;Satellite Study Methodology;333
8.4.6;Results of the Central Maine Study;335
8.4.7;Buying, Selling, and Harvesting: Strategies of Central Maine Landowners;336
8.4.7.1;Farmers;336
8.4.7.2;Local Businessmen;336
8.4.7.3;Home Owners and Developers;337
8.4.7.4;Contractors and Loggers;337
8.4.7.5;Large Landowners;338
8.4.8;Deforestation in State-Wide Perspective;339
8.4.8.1;Remedial Legislation;340
8.4.9;Theoretical Implications;341
8.4.10;Bibliography;343
8.5;Environmental and Economic Costs of Biofuels;346
8.5.1;Introduction;346
8.5.2;Food and Malnourishment;346
8.5.3;World Cropland and Water Resources;347
8.5.4;Energy Resources and Use;347
8.5.5;Biomass Resources;349
8.5.5.1;Corn Ethanol;350
8.5.5.2;Grass and Cellulosic Ethanol;353
8.5.5.3;Soybean Biodiesel;356
8.5.5.4;Rapeseed and Canola Biodiesel;356
8.5.5.5;Oil Palm;359
8.5.5.6;Algae for Oil Production;359
8.5.6;Conclusion;359
8.5.7;Bibliography;361
9;Editors’ References;367
10;Index;369