Data Sheet 1_“Are there caimans here?” Influence of multiple drivers on local ecological knowledge about an apex predator.pdf

IntroductionLocal Ecological Knowledge (LEK) regarding apex predators, such as crocodilians, is crucial for understanding human–wildlife dynamics and supporting conservation strategies. This knowledge is not uniformly acquired but is predicted by key variables. Direct contact through activities such as fishing provides experiential understanding of species ecology. Age generally facilitates knowledge accumulation, although this relationship is not strictly linear and may be affected by knowledge erosion in older individuals. LEK is also shaped by the interplay between formal education, which can augment understanding, and culturally embedded knowledge transmission modes, in which vertical, intergenerational learning coexists with the growing influence of mass media.
MethodsWe analyzed how emotion, contact, age, education level, and knowledge transmission mode influence LEK concerning the biology and ecology of the broad-snouted caiman (Caiman latirostris). The study was conducted around the Tapacurá Reservoir in northeastern Brazil, which sustains a structured population of this species. We interviewed 61 adults (19–79 years old) from local communities, predominantly fishermen and farmers, ensuring the inclusion of respondents with frequent direct contact with caimans and their environment.
ResultsThe mean LEK score was 5.1 ± 2.9 (scale from 0 to 10.5). Age and education were the main factors associated with LEK: young people (<30 years old) and individuals with higher education had higher LEK, while contact and emotion did not significantly influence it. Negative emotions (72%) were related to cultural and educational factors, with no direct link to local incidents. Television was the main transmission route (43%), followed by horizontal transmission (33%), with the latter occurring especially among older adults. Young people showed greater influence from mass media, while traditional modes, such as vertical transmission, had a greater impact on older adults.
ConclusionThe observed average LEK can be attributed to urbanization and the low dependence of the community on resources associated with caimans. These findings show that cultural changes, urbanization, and modernization can shape LEK, highlighting the importance of adapting to new transmission dynamics to ensure conservation. Participatory strategies, such as environmental education programs, are essential to value LEK, include it in the school curriculum, promote its integration with protected areas, and strengthen the cultural link with local biodiversity.