Variation and Transmission of Sonoran Wild Food Knowledge in Southern Arizona

Abstract

Since knowledge about wild foods is thought to be declining in younger generations worldwide, this study's objective was to describe variation in Sonoran wild food knowledge in southern Arizona between adults (n = 19) and students (n = 110) using free lists, an identification exercise, and structured interviews. There are fundamental differences in the quantity and quality of knowledge that adults and students have about wild desert foods. Adults know more native species, specific names, and correctly identify Sonoran wild foods twice as often as students. Fewer direct nature experiences in the younger generation may account for the observed variation in wild food knowledge.

Keywords:

• Arizona
• cultural transmission
• learning
• Sonoran Desert
• traditional ecological knowledge
• wild foods