Cultural keystone species revisited: are we asking the right questions?

ABSTRACT: The cultural keystone species theory predicts plant species that are culturally important, play a role in resource acquisition, fulfil a psycho-socio-cultural function within a given culture, have high use-value, have an associated naming and terminology in a native language, and a high level of species irreplaceability qualify for cultural keystone species designation. This theory was proposed as a framework for understanding relationships between human societies and species that are integral to their culture. A greater understanding of the dynamic roles of cultural keystones in both ecosystem processes and cultural societies is a foundation for facilitating biocultural conservation. Given such important direct conservation implications of the cultural keystone species theory, we reviewed

SUBMITTER: Coe MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7657362 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature