Secondary school students' familiarity with animals and plants: hometown size matters

• Published in: Environmental education research Vol. 28; no. 10; pp. 1564 - 1583
• Main Authors: Barrutia, Oihana, Ruiz-González, Aritz, Sanz-Azkue, Iñaki, Díez, José Ramón
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Routledge 06-09-2022; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Animals; Biodiversity; Biodiversity education; Environmental education; Familiarity; Foreign Countries; Income; Indigenous species; interest in nature; Introduced species; Middle School Students; Native species; Physical Environment; Place of Residence; plant blindness; Plants (Botany); Population Distribution; Preferences; Private Schools; Public Schools; Rural environments; Secondary school students; Secondary Schools; Student Interests; Students; Taxonomy; Wild animals; Wildlife; wildlife species; Spain
• ISSN: 1350-4622; 1469-5871
• DOI: 10.1080/13504622.2022.2086689

Species literacy is an important aspect of biodiversity education. This study assesses the ability of secondary students (12/13 years old; n = 944) to list wild animals and plants and aims to determine whether this is linked with their interest in nature, their preferences towards animals and plants and different groups therein, the school type (public or private), per capita income and the size of the students' hometowns. We have observed that students claim to have a very high interest in nature, but they spontaneously recall a worrisome proportion of exotic species (especially animals), as well as domesticated ones (mainly plants). Besides, they present several 'Plant Awareness Disparity' (PAD) symptoms. However, the smaller their hometown is, the more wild native species they list, especially animals, although most PAD symptoms prevail in their answers. Our findings suggest that citizens living in more rural environments may have a higher contact with nature, resulting on a higher spontaneous listing of wild native species. Nevertheless, special efforts must be conducted to counteract PAD as well as 'Native Species Awareness Disparity' wherever they live.