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      Understanding cultural significance, the edible mushrooms case

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          Abstract

          Background

          Cultural significance is a keystone in quantitative ethnobiology, which offers the possibility to make inferences about traditional nomenclature systems, use, appropriation and valuing of natural resources. In the present work, using as model the traditional mycological knowledge of Zapotecs from Oaxaca, Mexico, we analyze the cultural significance of wild edible resources.

          Methods

          In 2003 we applied 95 questionnaires to a random sample of informants. With this data we integrated the Edible Mushroom Cultural Significance Index. This index included eight variables: frequency of mention, perceived abundance, use frequency, taste, multifunctional food use, knowledge transmission, health and economy. Data were analyzed in an inductive perspective using ordination and grouping techniques to reveal the behavior of species in a cultural multivariate dimension.

          Results

          In each variable the species had different conducts. Cantharellus cibarius s.l. was the species with most frequency of mention. Pleurotus sp. had the highest perceived abundance. C. cibarius s.l. was the most frequently consumed species. Gomphus clavatus was the most palatable species and also ranked highest in the multifunctional food index. Cortinarius secc. Malacii sp. had the highest traditional importance. Only Tricholoma magnivelare was identified as a health enhancer. It also had the most economic importance. According to the compound index, C. cibarius s.l., the Amanita caesarea complex, Ramaria spp. and Neolentinus lepideus were the mushrooms with highest cultural significance. Multivariate analysis showed that interviewees identify three main groups of mushrooms: species with high traditional values, frequent consumption and known by the majority; species that are less known, infrequently consumed and without salient characteristics; and species with low traditional values, with high economic value and health enhancers.

          Conclusion

          The compound index divided the cultural significance into several cultural domains and showed the causes that underlie this phenomenon. This approach can be used in cross-cultural studies because it brings a list with the relative position of species among a cultural significance gradient. This list is suitable for comparisons and also it is flexible because cultural variables can be included or removed to adjust it to the nature of the different cultures or resources under study.

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          Most cited references50

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          Culture as Consensus: A Theory of Culture and Informant Accuracy

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            The Utilitarian Factor in Folk Biological Classification

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              Herbal remedies of the Luo of Siaya District, Kenya: Establishing quantitative criteria for consensus

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                Author and article information

                Journal
                J Ethnobiol Ethnomedicine
                Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine
                BioMed Central (London )
                1746-4269
                2007
                11 January 2007
                : 3
                : 4
                Affiliations
                [1 ]Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apdo. Postal 113–100, Rumania N°700 Col. Portales, C.P. 03301, D.F, México
                [2 ]Jardín Botánico, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apdo. Postal 70–614, C.P. 04510, Ciudad Universitaria, D.F, México
                [3 ]Laboratorio de Sistemática, Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, Apdo. Postal 183, C.P. 90000, Tlaxcala, México
                [4 ]Sección de Micología, Herbario FCME, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apdo. Postal 70–181, C.P. 04510, Ciudad Universitaria, D.F, México
                Article
                1746-4269-3-4
                10.1186/1746-4269-3-4
                1779767
                17217539
                f630140a-9f0b-4a8a-bdcf-32bec7a0ff6a
                Copyright © 2007 Garibay-Orijel et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

                This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

                History
                : 8 August 2006
                : 11 January 2007
                Categories
                Research

                Medicine
                Medicine

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