Contributions to the Identification of Cultural Keystone Species from an Emic Perspective: a Case Study from Northeast Brazil

The concept of “ecological keystone species” underscores the central role certain species play in ecosystem dynamics. Analogously, “cultural keystone species” are essential in organizing social-ecological systems, reflecting the critical relationship between humans and their environment. While various indicators have been proposed for identifying cultural keystone species, recent studies have questioned their efficacy. Challenges persist in defining clear criteria for identifying these species, distinguishing them from other culturally and economically important species, and incorporating the emic perspectives of local communities. To address these challenges, we propose the cultural keystone species syndrome (CKSS) approach, which focuses on species identified as unique from an emic perspective. We conducted a case study in the Araripe-Apodi Environmental Protection Area in northeastern Brazil, where two communities, Horizonte and Sítio Macaúba, rely heavily on plant extraction for livelihoods. Using the free listing technique, we identified species considered culturally important by local residents. Our findings reveal an overlap between species identified as having the cultural keystone species syndrome and those considered only culturally significant, challenging the notion of exclusive cultural keystone species. We discuss the implications of our findings for biocultural conservation and highlight the need for a more nuanced understanding of cultural keystone species and their role in shaping social-ecological systems dynamics.