Table 1 Methodology for data collection/exclusion for search conducted in January 2016 using the key words “cultural keystone species” in PoP. Data sources for PoP publication search included Crossref, Google Scholar, Google Scholar Profile, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science

Data search

Peer-reviewed paper database search on PoP—Publish or Perish (Harzing, 2007) using key words “cultural keystone species.”

Title, abstract, and keyword information for 473 papers correlated with initial search.

Data review

Screening the title, abstract, keywords, methods, and publication format to exclude those not relevant to study.

409 papers aligned with study/search criteria following screening procedure

Data collection

Downloaded and gained full text access to all that were relevant.

409 downloaded full text with 18 with no access

Data refinement

Key word search papers for cultural keystone species using finder option. Additionally, read publications that specifically focus on/test cultural keystone species criteria defined by Turner and Garibaldi (2004) and Cristancho and Vining (2004).

409 papers were relevant to study criteria.

Data classification

Systematic classification of the 409 relevant papers using 5 defined criteria (randomly cited, test of theory, mention concept, mention species as cultural keystone, review of the theory/concept) integral to gaining insight on the use/application of cultural keystone species theory.

Dataset of 5 defined criteria for each relevant paper

Data analysis

Summarize and analyze data.

Citation of theory over time