Global principles in local traditional knowledge: a review of forage plant-livestock-herder interactions

An understanding of traditional ecological knowledge systems is increasingly acknowledged as a means of helping to develop global, regional and national, but locally relevant policies. Pastoralists often use lands that are unsuitable for crops due to biophysical and climatic extremities and variabilities. Forage plants of pastures are utilized by herding communities by applying locally relevant multigenerational knowledge. We analyzed the forage-related knowledge of pastoralists and herders by reviewing scientific papers and video documentaries on forage plants and indicators, their use in land management, and plant-livestock interactions. Semi-structured interviews were also conducted with key knowledge holders in Iran, Mongolia, Kenya, Poland and Hungary. We found 35 indicators used by herders to describe forage species. The indicators described botanical features, livestock behavior during grazing, and the impact of plants on livestock condition and health. The indicators were used in context-specific management decisions, with a variety of objectives to optimize grazing. We identified ten global principles, including, among others, a livestock-centered perspective, close monitoring and targeted pasturing of various (preferred or avoided) forages, and the use of different livestock types and well-planned spatial movements at multiple scales to optimize the utilization of available plant resources. Although pastoralists vary greatly across the globe, the character and use of their traditional forage-related knowledge do seem to follow strikingly similar principles. Understanding these may help the local-to-global-level understanding of these locally specific systems, support bottom-up pastoral initiatives and discussions on sustainable land management, and help to develop locally relevant global and national policies.Peer reviewe

Extreme levels of mycophilia documented in Mazovia, a region of Poland

Abstract Background The paper presents documentation of the traditional use of wild edible mushrooms in Mazovia (33,900 km2), a region of Poland. Methods A total of 695 semi-structured interviews were carried out among local informants in 38 localities proportionally distributed throughout the study area (one locality approximately every 30 km), asking which mushrooms they collected and how. The species utilized were identified using visual props, morphological identification of voucher specimens, and DNA barcoding. Results Altogether, 92 taxa identified to the species or genus level were recorded, among them 76 species used as food, 21 taxa known as toxic, and 11 taxa used for non-culinary purposes. Out of 76 identified edible fungi species, 47% (36 species) were identified using ITS DNA barcode method. Eleven of them were identified exclusively by molecular analysis. The mean number of edible taxa mentioned per interview was 9.5. Two species new to the mycobiota of Poland, Hydnum ellipsosporum and Paxillus cuprinus, were found. Frequent interaction with mushroom collectors enabled the transcription of local folk taxonomy into proper taxonomic classification and the definition of changes in local preferences concerning wild fungi collection. Conclusions The list of species utilized is the longest regional list of edible mushrooms ever recorded during ethnomycological field research, putting the inhabitants of the studied region at the top of the mycophilia spectrum

The analysis of the possibility of using 10-minute rainfall series to determine the maximum rainfall amount with 5 minutes duration

Modern scientific research in the area of heavy rainfall analysis regarding to the sewerage design indicates the need to develop and use probabilistic rain models. One of the issues that remains to be resolved is the length of the shortest amount of rain to be analyzed. It is commonly believed that the best time is 5 minutes, while the least rain duration measured by the national services is often 10 or even 15 minutes. Main aim of this paper is to present the difference between probabilistic rainfall models results given from rainfall time series including and excluding 5 minutes rainfall duration. Analysis were made for long-time period from 1961–2010 on polish meteorological station Legnica. To develop best fitted to measurement rainfall data probabilistic model 4 probabilistic distributions were used. Results clearly indicates that models including 5 minutes rainfall duration remains more appropriate to use

Probabilistic approach of the Upper and Middle Odra basin daily rainfall modeling

The aim of this study was to obtain the maximum daily rainfall descriptions based on 9 probability distributions in 12 meteorological stations located in Upper and Middle Odra river basin. Analysis included long-term period from 1961 to 2010. Regarding to AIC and BIC informational criterions Gamma distribution that appeared to be best fitted probability distribution to measurement rainfall data series. For several stations, Pareto, Weibull and generalized exponential distributions were also possible to use. For practical purposes it is necessary to carry out a similar analysis for much shorter rainfall intervals. The final evaluation of the suitability of individual probability distributions for constructing maximum rainfall probabilistic models requires further research

Probabilistic approach of the Upper and Middle Odra basin daily rainfall modeling

The aim of this study was to obtain the maximum daily rainfall descriptions based on 9 probability distributions in 12 meteorological stations located in Upper and Middle Odra river basin. Analysis included long-term period from 1961 to 2010. Regarding to AIC and BIC informational criterions Gamma distribution that appeared to be best fitted probability distribution to measurement rainfall data series. For several stations, Pareto, Weibull and generalized exponential distributions were also possible to use. For practical purposes it is necessary to carry out a similar analysis for much shorter rainfall intervals. The final evaluation of the suitability of individual probability distributions for constructing maximum rainfall probabilistic models requires further research