2025 Internship Project Overview

Our project examined biocultural diversity (BCD) in the aquatic wildlife trade, with a focus on less-studied urban systems, to explore how social and ecological dimensions interdependently shape these trade networks.

Biocultural diversity highlights that the diversity of life encompasses not only biological variation but also cultural diversity—worldviews, languages, practices and values—that both shape and are shaped by local environments.

To identify research trends and gaps in this niche field, we conducted a systematic review of empirical studies on urban aquatic wildlife trade. While individual studies often address aspects of BCD, the field remains fragmented and lacks systems-level analysis.

We also conducted quasi-ethnographic fieldwork in New York City’s Chinatowns, observing trade in fish markets and medicinal shops. We developed a questionnaire to collect systematic data on these practices.

This work represents an early step toward understanding urban aquatic wildlife trade and building a more holistic, just and inclusive approach to conservation science.

ORGANIZATION/RESEARCH GROUP

High Meadows Environmental Institute; Fuentes Research Group, Department of Anthropology, Princeton University

LOCATION

Princeton, New Jersey; New York, New York

 

Interns

Ariel Chen ’28
Major: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (Intended)
Minor(s): Environmental Studies, Journalism
"This was my first experience with quasi-ethnographic research. It strengthened my desire to work in conservation through a biocultural lens, by examining how the diversity of nature and culture are interdependent and shape the ways people engage with natural resources."
Riley Pan ’28
Major: Mathematics
"I gained a lot by getting to do hands-on data analysis and immersing myself in our project. I loved getting to apply what I’ve learned to data sets I collected, and incorporating both field studies with literature."

Click to view the end-of-project presentation

 

Agustín Fuentes
Professor of Anthropology

Mentors

  • Christian Rivera, Postdoctoral Research Associate, High Meadows Environmental Institute