Camilah Antunes Zappes

Conflicts between river dolphins (Cetacea: Odontoceti) and fisheries in the Central Amazon: a path toward tragedy?

Dolphin interactions with fishermen have increased significantly and pose potential risks to the boto, Inia geoffrensis (Blainville, 1817), and the tucuxi, Sotalia fluviatilis (Gervais & Deville, 1853). The main objective of the present paper was to describe the existing conflicts between river dolphins and fishermen in the municipality of Manacapuru region. Sixteen fishermen were interviewed in Manacapuru, state of Amazonas, Brazil who described a situation of ongoing conflict that may be unsustainable. Two merchants from Manacapuru made unconfirmed reports on a boto carcass trade. Data collection for this study occurred between April 20th and April 25th, 2009, but the first author had been conducting research on river dolphins and fisheries in Manacapuru and nearby cities since the beginning of 2008, in order to gain the trust of the fishermen interviewed. The hunting and deliberate killing of the species is probably more threatening to botos than their incidental capture in fishing gears in the Manacapuru region. This practice may result from the fact that dolphins are prone to damaging fishing equipment, and stealing (and possibly damaging) fish from the nets. They are portrayed negatively in numerous myths and superstitions of traditional Amazonian folklore, making them extremely undesired or even hated, seen as pests, and used in the piracatinga, Calophysus macropterus (Lichtenstein, 1819) fishery as bait. For tucuxis, incidental capture still represents the major threat to their conservation in the region evaluated here.

Perception of local inhabitants regarding the socioeconomic impact of tourism focused on provisioning wild dolphins in Novo Airão, Central Amazon, Brazil

Botos (Inia geoffrensis) are currently provisioned for use in tourist attractions in five sites in the Brazilian Amazon. Despite the known negative effects associated with human-wild dolphin interactions, this activity has been regulated and licensed in the Anavilhanas National Park in Novo Airão, Amazonas State, Brazil. We present an updated evaluation of the perception of the local community concerning the possible socioeconomic impacts of this tourism in Novo Airão. In April 2011, 45 interviews were conducted with inhabitants. A small segment of Novo Airão perceives currently itself as being economically dependent on the botos feeding tourism. Despite that, the economic benefits of this controversial activity apparently are not shared among most inhabitants, and botos feeding tourism is perceived as generating diverse negative effects. We conclude that if the activity was banned or modified into a less impacting tourist activity, this action would probably not majorly affect the lives of the general population.

Local knowledge on native bees and their role as pollinators in agricultural communities

Pollination is indispensable for the reproduction of native and agricultural plant species. Current data underline the fragility of pollinator populations, mainly bees, which are threatened by increasing habitat fragmentation and use of agrochemicals. In this scenario, traditional communities in rural areas represent an important source of information, acquired upon direct observation of the biology and the ecology of animal species in these regions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the local environmental knowledge of students in elementary schools in rural areas about bees and pollination at two moments, before and after the use of specific educational activities. Initially 110 students were interviewed and they mentioned a relatively low number of ethnospecies. After the educational activities, we noticed a marked increase in this number, besides the significant learning of important concepts. Rural school communities lack information about pollination and insect pollinators and the insects, pollinators or not, still constitute animals of negative reputation for people. We believe that a deeper knowledge of pollination and pollinators may improve sustainable activities in the region.ResumoA polinização é indispensável para a reprodução de espécies de plantas nativas e agrícolas. Dados atuais destacam a fragilidade das populações de polinizadores, principalmente abelhas, que são ameaçadas pela crescente fragmentação do habitat e uso de agrotóxicos. Neste cenário, as comunidades tradicionais nas áreas rurais representam uma importante fonte de informação, adquirida mediante a observação direta da biologia e da ecologia de espécies de animais nessas regiões. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o conhecimento ambiental local de estudantes do ensino fundamental em escolas nas áreas rurais sobre a polinização em dois momentos, antes e depois do uso de materiais didáticos específicos. Inicialmente, 110 estudantes foram entrevistados e mencionaram um número relativamente baixo de etnoespécies. Após as atividades didáticas, constatamos um aumento pronunciado neste número, além do aprendizado significativo de conceitos importantes. Comunidades de escolas rurais carecem de informações sobre polinização e insetos polinizadores e os insetos, polinizadores ou não, ainda constituem animais de reputação negativa para as pessoas. Entendemos que um conhecimento mais profundo sobre a polinização e os insetos polinizadores pode ampliar as atividades sustentáveis na região.

Agricultura familiar no norte do estado do Rio de Janeiro: identificação de manejo tradicional

The aim of this study is describe the techniques used in family farming and to identify the occurrence of a possible traditional management in the activity practiced in 5o District of Sao Joao da Barra, State of Rio de Janeiro. For the collection of information were carried 50 interviews ethnographic with family farmers through semi structured questionnaires with open and closed questions, participant observation and field diary. Farmers are mostly males with low education. The traditional knowledge of agriculture is taught mainly within the nucleus of family. For the family farm can be used hand tools and heavy machinery. To increment of nutrient in the soil are used fertilizing chemistry and organic and slime of sugarcane. The irrigation occurs by use of artesian wells/electric pump/pressurized hose and sprinkler. For soil rest and better cultivation of crop yields are applied crop rotation and fallow areas which were characterized the traditional management in the region.