SGER: Socioecology and Social Structure

Pennsylvania State Univ University Park, University Park PA

Investigators

Abstract

Dr. Stephen Beckerman will use this award to complete ethnographic research on a South American tropical forest society, the Barí of Venezuela. There are four major data gaps to be addressed in this research: 1) the locations and identities of all Barí local and territorial groups; 2) Barí relationships with non-Barí neighbors; 3) partible paternity, a very rare kinship system in which multiple fathers share paternal status for a single child; and 4) the relationship between household economy and marriage practices. Completing documentation of Barí society is important because there are very few groups for which pre-contact ecological and demographic information still can be gathered. Research to date has shown that Barí social practices were ecologically sound. For example, partible paternity significantly increases child survivorship. Completing documentation of the Barí will help scientists to understand the full range of human socioecological systems. The research also supports international scientific collaboration.