From Linderiella baetica to gambilusa: Involving children in conservation by giving a new species a common name

• Published in: Aquatic conservation 2021-06, Vol.31 (6), p.1543-1547
• Main Authors: García‐de‐Lomas, Juan, Clavero, Miguel, García, Carlos M., Alba, Desireé, Torres, José María, Jurado, Alfonso, Cantero, Virginia, Navarro, Rosario, Hortas, Francisco
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aquatic crustaceans; Aquatic invertebrates; Aquatic organisms; awareness; Biota; Children; Conservation; Conservation status; contest; Critically endangered species; Crustaceans; Endangered species; Geographical distribution; Intermittent lakes; Invertebrates; Linderiella; Marine crustaceans; New species; Rare species; school; Schools; Shellfish; Taxa; Temporary ponds; Threatened species; Vernacular names; Wildlife conservation
• ISSN: 1052-7613; 1099-0755
• DOI: 10.1002/aqc.3561

The knowledge and awareness that the general public has about aquatic invertebrates is often poor, even when they are highly threatened. The frequent lack of popular names and the unattractiveness of the scientific ones may be among the factors hindering the knowledge of these organisms and, consequently, the awareness of their conservation status and the willingness to conserve them. Linderiella baetica (Crustacea, Branchiopoda, Anostraca) was discovered in 2007 in southern Spain and is considered a critically endangered species. However, being a small invertebrate inhabiting generally unappreciated temporary ponds, this species was completely unknown by the general public, even in the area in which it occurs. To increase the knowledge and awareness of L. baetica, 1,347 children from five schools within its distribution area participated in a contest to select a common name for this newly described taxon. The winning name, gambilusa (Andalusian shrimp), will be used in the future by the Spanish Ministry of Environment and hopefully by the general public to identify the species. The contest was found to have increased the knowledge about the target species in a sustained manner, as 1 year later, 93% of the children recognized gambilusa as a crustacean, 75% remembered its typical habitat, and 89% broadly identified its geographical distribution. This kind of name‐choosing contest is applicable for different regions and taxa to raise awareness on the conservation of threatened but poorly known biota.