Estudio etnoherpetológico sobre los conocimientos tradicionales de la comunidad de la vereda Marsella, La Mesa, Cundinamarca, Colombia

Abstract

Ethnobiology is the study of knowledge and concepts developed by any society around biology, the role of nature in the belief system of the human being. This is how, within current research, knowing these relationships between communities and nature has become relevant and has become the main topic in the field of research. The village of Marsella, is located in the department of Cundinamarca, and has a community rooted in working in the fields and with an environment that keeps a lot of fauna and flora in its surroundings, including herpetofauna, where we obtained records of organisms such as frogs, toads, lizards and snakes. Due to the cultural changes and traditional knowledge that cause the loss of the same, which can contribute with contributions to study the traditional knowledge of the peasant community that lives in this area about the herpetofauna, it provides enriching contents to the area of ethnobiology and to the study zone. This study was carried out with the objective of characterizing the knowledge of the community in aspects such as morphology, ecology, ethnotaxonomy, utilities, perceptions, taking into account the coexistence that the community has had with the nature of the area, through visits to the study area and semi-structured interviews, voice-recorded and transcribed, samples, illustrations and catalogs. Principal component analyzes were performed in PAST 3.24. And descriptive statistical tests using bar graphs, the research revealed a rich traditional knowledge with aspects of morphology, ecology, ecological uses and positive perceptions of herpetofauna in general.