How to use the Applied Inquiry Cycle for Felid Monitoring in El Salvador

Abstract

Applied science is the process of testing alternative management guidelines in our environment. In El Salvador, through the initiative of non-governmental and government organizations, a National Feline Conservation Program has been created. It is imperative to select the proper method to design field research, collect data, reflect, and apply the knowledge gained to decision-making in the field. The Applied Inquiry Cycle facilitates the design of field studies that can help in the conservation of the wild feline species of El Salvador. The Applied Inquiry Cycle begins with a working question that explicitly and clearly shows the key elements of the action (study design and data analysis), which facilitates reflection that in turn leads to the application. The method is designed so that not only scientists such as biologists and field ecologists can design and conduct their investigations but also so that it is accessible to a variety of other audiences, such as school students, park rangers, and other stakeholders who play important roles in the conservation of natural resources.