Manuel J. Macía

Oligarchic dominance in western Amazonian plant communities

The oligarchy hypothesis proposes that large areas of Amazonian plant communities are dominated by limited sets of species. We tested this hypothesis by (1) quantifying dominance of the 10 most common species, genera and families in each region; and (2) assessing the consistency of relative abundance ranks between areas and across scales in dominance patterns for trees and lianas in two distant Amazonian regions (∼ 1900 km), the Yasun´ ia nd Madidi National Parks in Ecuador and Bolivia, respectively. The analyses were based on sixty-nine 0.1-ha plots in which all woody plants with a diameter at breast height (dbh) ≥ 2.5 cm were inventoried (19 775 individuals and 1729 species in total). The plots were located at two Yasunand five Madidi sites, with an average of 10 plots per site. Overall, oligarchic dominance was pronounced at all the spatial scales investigated, although decreasing with increasing scale. Cross-scale relative abundance ranks were more consistent in Yasunthan in Madidi, while no such difference was apparent within single sites. Quantitative dominance and consistency of relative abundance ranks increased with taxonomic rank, being stronger at the family level than at genus and species levels. Species-level dominance was somewhat stronger within the 10 most common families in either region, than in other families. Dominance was similarly strong for canopy (dbh ≥ 10 cm) and understorey trees (dbh < 10 cm), and less pronounced among lianas. In conclusion, our results provide strong evidence that western Amazonian forests can be dominated by limited oligarchies of species, genera and families over large expanses.

Medicinal and veterinary plants of El Caurel (Galicia, northwest Spain).

A study of the medicinal and veterinary plants popularly used in El Caurel region (Lugo province, northwest Spain) and their relationships is reported. We obtained data for 85 species belonging to 31 families of vascular plants. Their vernacular names, properties, preparations, mode and popular uses are presented.

Palm Uses in Northwestern South America: A Quantitative Review

A thorough review concerning palm uses in tropical rainforests of north-western South America was carried out to understand patterns of palm use throughout ecoregions (Amazonia, Andes, Chocó), countries (Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia), and among the different human groups (indigenous, mestizos, afroamericans, colonos) that occur there. A total of 194 useful palm species, 2,395 different uses and 6,141 use-reports were recorded from 255 references. The Amazon had the highest palm use, whereas fewer, but similar uses were recorded for the Andes and Chocó. Ecuador was the most intensively studied country. Most palms were used for human food, utensils and tools, construction, and cultural purposes. Indigenous people knew more palm uses than mestizos, afroamericans and colonos. The use of palms was not random and the main uses were the same throughout the studied ecoregions and countries. Palms satisfy basic subsistence needs and have great importance in traditional cultures of rural indigenous and peasant populations in our study area. Arecaceae is probably the most important plant family in the Neotropics, in relation to use diversity and abundance.ResumenSe realizó una revisión exhaustiva de los usos de las palmeras en los bosques tropicales lluviosos del noroeste de América del Sur para comprender los patrones de uso de las palmeras por ecorregiones (Amazonia, Andes, Chocó), países (Colombia, Ecuador, Perú, Bolivia) y entre los diferentes grupos humanos (indígenas, mestizos, afroamericanos, colonos) existentes. Se registraron 194 especies de palmeras útiles, 2,395 usos distintos y 6,141 registros de uso a partir de 255 referencias. La Amazonia tuvo el uso más alto de palmeras, mientras que en los Andes y el Chocó se encontraron menores usos aunque similares. Ecuador fue el país que se estudió más intensamente. La mayoría de las especies se usaron para alimentación humana, utensilios y herramientas, construcción y usos culturales. Los indígenas conocieron más usos de palmeras que los mestizos, afroamericanos y colonos. El uso de las palmeras no fue al azar y los usos principales fueron los mismos en todas las ecorregiones y países estudiados. Las palmeras cubren necesidades básicas de subsistencia y tienen una gran importancia en las culturas tradicionales de las poblaciones indígenas y campesinas rurales en nuestra área de estudio. Arecaceae es probablemente la familia de plantas más importante del Neotrópico, en relación a su diversidad y abundancia de usos.

Chemical composition, nutritional evaluation, and economic prospects ofSpondias purpurea (Anacardiaceae)

The fruits of “ovo” (Spondias purpurea L) had the highest caloric density of the fruits compared, 74 kcal/100 g edible portion versus 39 to 58 kcal/100 g for peach, apricot, plum, mango, and cherry. This higher caloric density is due principally to ovos higher concentration of total carbohydrates (19.1%); fructose, glucose, and sucrose together account for 65% of the soluble matter. Unlike the other fruits, ovo retains a fair amount of starch in the mesocarp. It is a moderate source of potassium (250 mgl 100 g edible portion) and an excellent source of vitamin C (49 mg/l00 g edible portion). Analysis of volatile flavor compounds showed 2-hexenal to be the main flavor compound present. Although there is a local market for ovo in Ecuador, large scale exportation of the fresh fruit currently lacks the necessary infrastructure to prolong shelf life, while the current production of ovo is insufficient for large scale industrial processing of the fruit. In the near future, the best alternative to maximize the income of the small holders producing ovo is for them to concentrate on producing “value added products” such as jams, ice creams, alcoholic beverages, and vinegars.ResumenLOS frutos del “ovo” (Spondias purpurea L.) tienen el valor más alto de densidad calórica entre los frutos comparados, 74 kcal/100 g de portion comestible frente a valores de 39 a 58 kcallg reportados para durazno (melocotón), albaricoque, ciruela, mango y cereza (guinda). Este valor se debe principalmente a la elevada concentración de los hidratos de carbono (19.1%) en el ovo, en comparación con las otras frutas mencionadas; la concentratión total de fructosa, glucosa y sacarosa representa el 65% de los sólidos totales presentes. En relatión con las otras frutas, el ovo cuenta con cantidades relativamente altas de almidón en el mesocarpio. El ovo representa una fuente regular de potash (250 mgl 100 g de portión comestible) y una excelente fuente de vitamina C (49 mg/100 g de portion comestible). El análisis de los compuestos aromáticos volátiles identificó a 2-hexenal como el componente principal del aroma de lafruta. En Ecuador existe un mercado potential para la venta de los ovos, aunque en la actualidad, la exportatión a gran escala de los frutos frescos carece de la infraestructura necesaria para prolongar la estabilidad delfruto para su transporte y su venta posterior. La mejor alternativa para obtener mayores ingresos para los pequeños productores de ovo sería la venta de los productos que aportan un valor añadido: mermeladas, helados, bebidas alcohólicas y vinagres. Con la productión actual de ovo en Ecuador, sería posible una explotación a nivel de pequeña industria de estos productos elaborados.

Ethnobotanical knowledge is vastly under-documented in northwestern South America.

A main objective of ethnobotany is to document traditional knowledge about plants before it disappears. However, little is known about the coverage of past ethnobotanical studies and thus about how well the existing literature covers the overall traditional knowledge of different human groups. To bridge this gap, we investigated ethnobotanical data-collecting efforts across four countries (Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia), three ecoregions (Amazon, Andes, Chocó), and several human groups (including Amerindians, mestizos, and Afro-Americans). We used palms (Arecaceae) as our model group because of their usefulness and pervasiveness in the ethnobotanical literature. We carried out a large number of field interviews (n = 2201) to determine the coverage and quality of palm ethnobotanical data in the existing ethnobotanical literature (n = 255) published over the past 60 years. In our fieldwork in 68 communities, we collected 87,886 use reports and documented 2262 different palm uses and 140 useful palm species. We demonstrate that traditional knowledge on palm uses is vastly under-documented across ecoregions, countries, and human groups. We suggest that the use of standardized data-collecting protocols in wide-ranging ethnobotanical fieldwork is a promising approach for filling critical information gaps. Our work contributes to the Aichi Biodiversity Targets and emphasizes the need for signatory nations to the Convention on Biological Diversity to respond to these information gaps. Given our findings, we hope to stimulate the formulation of clear plans to systematically document ethnobotanical knowledge in northwestern South America and elsewhere before it vanishes.

Are Ecologically Important Tree Species the Most Useful? A Case Study from Indigenous People in the Bolivian Amazon

Are Ecologically Important Tree Species the Most Useful? A Case Study from Indigenous People in the Bolivian Amazon. Researchers have argued that indigenous peoples prefer to use the most apparent plant species, particularly for medicinal uses. However, the association between the ecological importance of a species and its usefulness remains unclear. In this paper we quantify such association for six use categories (firewood, construction, materials, food, medicines, and other uses). We collected data on the uses of 58 tree species, as reported by 93 informants in 22 villages in the Tsimane’ territory (Bolivian Amazon). We calculated the ecological importance of the same species by deriving their importance value index (IVI) in 48 0.1-ha old-growth forest plots. Matching both data sets, we found a positive relation between the IVI of a species and its overall use value (UV) as well as with its UV for construction and materials. We found a negative relation between IVI and UV for species that were reportedly used for medicine and food uses, and no clear pattern for the other categories. We hypothesize that species used for construction or crafting purposes because of their physical properties are more easily substitutable than species used for medicinal or edible purposes because of their chemical properties.Las especies de árboles de mayor importancia ecológica ¿son también las más útiles? Estudio de caso en un pueblo indígena de la Amazonia boliviana. Se ha argumentado que las poblaciones indígenas usan más las especies de plantas más comunes, especialmente para fines medicinales. Sin embargo, los patrones de asociación entre la importancia ecológica de una especie y su utilidad no son totalmente consistentes. En este estudio cuantificamos esta asociación para seis categorías de usos (leña, construcción, materiales, comestible, medicinal, y otros usos) en el territorio Tsimane’ (Amazonía boliviana). Recogimos datos de usos de 58 especies de árboles, reportados por 93 informantes en 22 comunidades, y combinamos estos datos con la importancia ecológica de las especies, estimada por su índice de importancia ecológica (IVI) en 48 parcelas de 0.1 ha establecidas en bosque maduro. Encontramos una relación positiva entre el IVI de las especies y su valor de uso (UV) general, además de su UV en construcción y materiales. Encontramos una relación negativa entre el IVI y el UV para las plantas medicinales y comestibles, y ningún patrón claro para las otras categorías. Nuestros datos sugieren que las especies usadas para construcción o materiales por sus propiedades físicas son más fácilmente sustituibles que las especies usadas como medicinales o comestibles por sus propiedades químicas.

Biodiversity: The benefits of traditional knowledge

A study of two Balkan ethnic groups living in close proximity finds that traditional knowledge about local plant resources helps communities to cope with periods of famine, and can promote the conservation of biodiversity.

Economic botany of Spondias purpurea (Anacardiaceae) in Ecuador.

The edible fruits of Spondias purpurea are valued highly throughout the Ecuadorian coastal plain and Andes where they are cultivated. They are also exported to Colombia and Peru. The fruits are either eaten fresh or processed into various products such as marmalade, wine, and liquor, all with promising market potential. This paper describes the annual cultivation cycle including, propagation, harvest and processing, yields, and socioeconomic importance of the fruits. In 1995, the total volume of the harvest in Ambuquí, province of Imbabura, was 130 000 kg with an average yield of 3250 kg/ha. Gross earnings was 472 US

Shifting dynamics of climate-functional groups in old-growth Amazonian forests

/ha. The net gain was 314 US

New categories for traditional medicine in the Economic Botany Data Collection Standard

/ha which represents six times the official monthly minimum wage in Ecuador. Spondias purpurea can grow and develop normally on rocky substrates and other marginal soils of otherwise low agricultural value.RésuméLos frutos comestibles de Spondias purpurea son muy apreciados en la región de la Costa y en los Andes de Ecuador en donde se cultivan. También se exportan a Colombia y Perú. Losfrutos se consumen en fresco o se procesan en varios productos como mermelada, vino y licor, todos ellos con un mercado potencial promisorio. En este trabajo se describe el ciclo anual de cultivo, que incluye su propagación, cosecha y procesado, producción e importancia socioeconómica de los frutos. En 1995, el volumen total de la cosecha en Ambuquí, provincia de Imbabura, fue de 130 000 kg con un promedio de producción de 3250 kg por hectarea. Los beneficios totales fueron de 472 dólares/ha. La ganancia neta fue de 314 dólares/ha, lo que representa seis veces el salario mensual mínimo oficial de Ecuador. Spondias purpurea puede crecer y desarrollarse con normalidad en sustratos pedregosos y otras àreas marginales de escaso valor agrícola.