Dissertation Research : The Nutritional Context of Hunting Decisions in the Bosawas Biosphere Reserve, Nicaragua

除了砍伐森林，过度猎杀野生物种被认为是对热带生物多样性的最大威胁。大部分狩猎是由农村人进行的，他们依靠猎物来满足日常生活需要。这篇论文是由宾夕法尼亚州立大学的一位文化人类学家进行的，研究了尼加拉瓜博萨瓦生物圈保护区的经济、营养和环境对狩猎决策的影响。研究人员将陪同当地的Mayangna和Miskito猎人进入森林，当地的外勤助理将同时收集未被观察到的狩猎和替代经济活动的数据。这些数据将被用来检验关于猎人对家庭需求、气候波动和野生动物数量做出反应的方式的假设。除了进一步教育和培训一名年轻的社会科学家外，该项目还将促进人类生态学的理论问题，特别是与热带雨林环境中的人类适应战略有关的问题。更广泛的影响：这项研究在整个拉丁美洲的环保议程中都有实际应用。这项研究的结果将增强热带雨林居民以科学为基础的野生动物管理计划的可行性，从而促进热带森林生态系统的长期保护。

Apart from deforestation, the over-hunting of game species is considered the greatest threat to tropical biodiversity. Much of this hunting is conducted by rural people who rely on hunted game to meet their daily subsistence needs. This dissertation research by a cultural anthropologist at Penn State University examines the economic, nutritional, and environmental effects on hunting decisions in the Bosawas Biosphere Reserve, Nicaragua. The researcher will accompany indigenous Mayangna and Miskito hunters on their forays into the forest, and local field assistants will concurrently collect data on unobserved hunts and alternative economic activities. These data will be used to test hypotheses about the ways in which hunters respond to household needs, climatic fluctuations, and wildlife abundance. In addition to furthering the education and training of a young social scientist, this project will contribute to theoretical issues in human ecology, particularly issues related to human adaptive strategies in tropical rain forest environments. Broader impacts: This research has practical applications for conservationist agendas throughout Latin America. Results of this research will enhance the feasibility of scientifically-based wildlife management plans for rain forest inhabitants, thereby promoting the long-term conservation of tropical forest ecosystems.