The results from the first study Looking Beyond the Exoskeleton: Insights into Endoskeletons and Their Attitudes towards the Tiny Majority – Insects, Arachnids are now available in PDF format or powerpoint.
Published November 28, 2011
Human Dimensions of Insect Conservation Project
Published October 27, 2011
Background
Arthropods are found everywhere – on land, in trees, in freshwater and saltwater, and even underground. However, many species remain undocumented or undiscovered (Evans et al., 2003). By nearly any measure, they are the most successful animals on the planet. The sheer multitude and adaptability of these animals have led Naskrecki (2005) to label arthropods as the world’s smaller majority. Yet in North America, it appears that much of this important ecological significance is overlooked by most wildlife managers and policymakers (Kellert, 1993; New, 1991). Although research into the field of arthropod conservation is growing (Fry & Lonsdale, 1991; New, 1991; 1998, Samways, 2005), our knowledge and understanding of these animals from a social sciences perspective, remains quite limited. Further, the significance of these animals is often overlooked by wildlife managers and policymakers (Kellert, 1993). What is most disconcerting is that arthropods constitute an important aspect of biodiversity conservation, and yet we “are losing large numbers of insects and arachnids at a rate unprecedented in the history of life” (Kim, 1993, p. 189). These omissions, as resulted in a number of researchers (Dunn, 2005; Naskrecki, 2005) calling these animals “the most neglected in global conservation efforts” (Kim, 1993, p. 189).
Overview
Although research into the field of arthropod conservation is growing (New, 1998; Samways, 2005), our knowledge and understanding of these animals from a social sciences perspective remains quite limited. In-order to acquire a better understanding of the social, political, economic, administrative and ecological requirements for arthropod conservation and education, a research approach similar to those employed in resource and wildlife management is suggested. First, a social environmental inventory detailing current management and educational strategies pertaining to arthropods will be developed. Consisting of an overview of the state of arthropod management, this analysis will involve a critical overview of achievements, failures, and impacts of these strategies. The socio-ecological inventory will also be used in the development of an interviewee list. Interviews with major stakeholders and associations (entomologists, researchers, enthusiasts) will provide a greater understanding of human-arthropod interactions from an interdisciplinary perspective. The research questions guiding this research project will include:
By focusing on the human dimensions of arthropods, these research questions provide an opportunity to acquire a greater understanding of management strategies, while translating social science models into practical tools for resource managers and policy makers. The final report will highlight successful awareness management and educational strategies increasing the awareness of arthropods.
Objectives
References
Dunn, R. R. (2005) Modern insect extinctions, the neglected majority. Conservation Biology 1030-1036.
Evans, A. V., R.W., Garrison, and Schlager, N. (Eds.) (2003). Grzimek’s Animal Life Encyclopedia: Volume 3: Insects. (2nd edition). Gale Cengage: New York, New York.
Fry, R. and Lonsdale, D. (1991). Habitat conservation for insects – a neglected green issue. London, UK; The Amateur Entomologists’ Society.
Kellert, S. R. (1993) Values and perceptions of invertebrates. Conservation Biology 7, 845-855.
Kim, K.C. (1993). Global biodiversity and the conservation of insect. Biodiversity and Conservation, 2, 189-190.
Naskrecki, P. (2005). The Smaller Majority. Harvard University Press. Cambridge, Massachusetts.
New TR. (1991). Butterfly conservation. Melbourne: Oxford University Press.
New, T. R. (1998). Invertebrate surveys for conservation. Oxford. Oxford University.
Samways, J. M. (2005) Insect diversity conservation. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
Background
Arthropods are found everywhere – on land, in trees, in freshwater and saltwater, and even underground. However, many species remain undocumented or undiscovered (Evans et al., 2003). By nearly any measure, they are the most successful animals on the planet. The sheer multitude and adaptability of these animals have led Naskrecki (2005) to label arthropods as the world’s smaller majority. Yet in North America, it appears that much of this important ecological significance is overlooked by most wildlife managers and policymakers (Kellert, 1993; New, 1991). Although research into the field of arthropod conservation is growing (Fry & Lonsdale, 1991; New, 1991; 1998, Samways, 2005), our knowledge and understanding of these animals from a social sciences perspective, remains quite limited. Further, the significance of these animals is often overlooked by wildlife managers and policymakers (Kellert, 1993). What is most disconcerting is that arthropods constitute an important aspect of biodiversity conservation, and yet we “are losing large numbers of insects and arachnids at a rate unprecedented in the history of life” (Kim, 1993, p. 189). These omissions, as resulted in a number of researchers (Dunn, 2005; Naskrecki, 2005) calling these animals “the most neglected in global conservation efforts” (Kim, 1993, p. 189).
Overview
Although research into the field of arthropod conservation is growing (New, 1998; Samways, 2005), our knowledge and understanding of these animals from a social sciences perspective remains quite limited. In-order to acquire a better understanding of the social, political, economic, administrative and ecological requirements for arthropod conservation and education, a research approach similar to those employed in resource and wildlife management is suggested. First, a social environmental inventory detailing current management and educational strategies pertaining to arthropods will be developed. Consisting of an overview of the state of arthropod management, this analysis will involve a critical overview of achievements, failures, and impacts of these strategies. The socio-ecological inventory will also be used in the development of an interviewee list. Interviews with major stakeholders and associations (entomologists, researchers, enthusiasts) will provide a greater understanding of human-arthropod interactions from an interdisciplinary perspective. The research questions guiding this research project will include:
- What is the current status of arthropods management?
- What are the specific challenges to arthropod management? What techniques and strategies have researchers, managers, and local stakeholders used to overcome those barriers?
- What types of activities increase knowledge of arthropods and raise environmental awareness; and,
- What approaches and situations hold the best prospects for advancing our understanding of arthropods?
By focusing on the human dimensions of arthropods, these research questions provide an opportunity to acquire a greater understanding of management strategies, while translating social science models into practical tools for resource managers and policy makers. The final report will highlight successful awareness management and educational strategies increasing the awareness of arthropods.
Objectives
- Inventory of key insect conservation initiatives and educational approaches.
- Content analysis of major web-search engines.
- Interviews with managers and agency personnel
- Development of a pollinator symposium in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
References
Dunn, R. R. (2005) Modern insect extinctions, the neglected majority. Conservation Biology 1030-1036.
Evans, A. V., R.W., Garrison, and Schlager, N. (Eds.) (2003). Grzimek’s Animal Life Encyclopedia: Volume 3: Insects. (2nd edition). Gale Cengage: New York, New York.
Fry, R. and Lonsdale, D. (1991). Habitat conservation for insects – a neglected green issue. London, UK; The Amateur Entomologists’ Society.
Kellert, S. R. (1993) Values and perceptions of invertebrates. Conservation Biology 7, 845-855.
Kim, K.C. (1993). Global biodiversity and the conservation of insect. Biodiversity and Conservation, 2, 189-190.
Naskrecki, P. (2005). The Smaller Majority. Harvard University Press. Cambridge, Massachusetts.
New TR. (1991). Butterfly conservation. Melbourne: Oxford University Press.
New, T. R. (1998). Invertebrate surveys for conservation. Oxford. Oxford University.
Samways, J. M. (2005) Insect diversity conservation. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.