Socio-ecological importance of the wild turkey (Meleagris ocellata) in southern Campeche, Mexico: implications for food security and ecotourism

The ocellated turkey (Meleagris ocellata) is a representative bird of the Yucatán Peninsula. It has ecological, cultural, and socioeconomic importance. The objective of this study was to analyze the contribution of M. ocellata to food security and ecotourism in southern Campeche, Mexico, through a literature review. The review was conducted in scientific databases, institutional repositories, and gray literature, using keywords in Spanish and English related to the species, wildlife use, subsistence hunting, tourism, and conservation. The selected literature was organized into two themes: food security and ecotourism. For food security, the categories of availability, access, utilization, and stability were considered. For ecotourism, categories such as birdwatching, wildlife observation, nature photography, environmental education, community-based tourism, and conservation tourism were analyzed. The results indicate that M. ocellata contributes directly to food security as a source of wild meat and indirectly through its cultural value, local exchange, and wildlife management practices. Regarding ecotourism, the species shows high potential as a flagship bird for birdwatching, nature photography, environmental interpretation, and non-extractive tourism in the landscapes of southern Campeche. In conclusion, it is suggested that the wild turkey should be understood as a multifunctional socio-ecological resource, whose integrated management can foster more comprehensive strategies for conservation, sustainable use, and territorial development in southern Campeche.