To decipher the long-term influences of pre-Columbian land occupations on contemporary forest structure, diversity, and functioning in Amazonia, most of the previous research focused on the alluvial plains of the major rivers of the Amazon basin. Terra firme, that is, nonflooded forests, particularly from the Guiana Shield, are yet to be explored. In this study, we aim to give new insights into the subtle traces of pre-Columbian influences on present-day forests given the archaeological context of terra firme forests of the Guiana Shield. Following archaeological prospects on 13 sites in French Guiana, we carried out forest inventories inside and outside archaeological sites and assessed the potential pre-Columbian use of the sampled tree species using an original ethnobotanical database of the Guiana Shield region. Aboveground biomass (320 and 380 T/ha, respectively), basal area (25-30 and 30-35 m 2 /ha, respectively), and tree density (550 and 700 stem/ha, respectively) were all significantly lower on anthropized plots (As) than on nonanthropized plots (NAs). Ancient human presence shaped the species composition of the sampled forests with Arecaceae, Burseraceae, and Lauraceae significantly more frequent in As and Annonaceae and Lecythidaceae more frequent in NAs. Although alpha diversity was not different between As and NAs, the presence of pre-Columbian sites enhances significantly the forest beta diversity at the landscape level. Finally, trees with edible fruits are positively associated with pre-Columbian sites, whereas trees used for construction or for their bark are negatively associated with pre-Columbian sites. Half a millennium after their abandonment, former occupied places from the inner Guiana Shield still bear noticeable differences with nonanthropized places. Considering the lack of data concerning archaeology of terra firme Amazonian forests, our results suggest that pre-Columbian influences on the structure (lower current biomass), diversity (higher beta diversity), and composition (linked to the past human tree uses) of current Amazonian forests might be more important than previously thought.

Background: In 2017, inhabitants along the border between French Guiana and Brazil were affected by a malaria outbreak primarily due to Plasmodium vivax (Pv). While malaria cases have steadily declined between 2005 and 2016 in this Amazonian region, a resurgence was observed in 2017. Methods: Two investigations were performed according to different spatial scales and information details: (1) a local study on the French Guiana border, which enabled a thorough investigation of malaria cases treated at a local village health center and the entomological circumstances in the most affected neighborhood, and (2) a regional and cross-border study, which enabled exploration of the regional spatiotemporal epidemic dynamic. Number and location of malaria cases were estimated using French and Brazilian surveillance systems. Results: On the French Guianese side of the border in Saint-Georges de l'Oyapock, the attack rate was 5.5% (n = 4000), reaching 51.4% (n = 175) in one Indigenous neighborhood. Entomological findings suggest a peak of Anopheles darlingi density in August and September. Two female An. darlingi (n = 1104, 0.18%) were found to be Pvpositive during this peak. During the same period, aggregated data from passive surveillance conducted by Brazilian and French Guianese border health centers identified 1566 cases of Pv infection. Temporal distribution during the 2007-2018 period displayed seasonal patterns with a peak in November 2017. Four clusters were identified among epidemic profiles of cross-border area localities. All localities of the first two clusters were Brazilian. The localization of the first cluster suggests an onset of the outbreak in an Indigenous reservation, subsequently expanding to French Indigenous neighborhoods and non-Native communities.

Hunting sustainability in Amazonian ecosystems is a key challenge for modern stakeholders. Predictive models have evolved from first mostly biological data-based to more recent modeling including human behavior. We analyze here the hunting data collected in French Guiana through a panel of indices aiming at drawing the puzzle of parameters influencing hunting activity and impact in various socio ecological conditions across the country. Data were collected from five different study sites differing in cultural origins and remoteness from market economy, and over a 10 years period. Most indices show an impact on wildlife populations, and using a full set of indicators allowed us to better understand some underlying mechanisms that lead to a community's hunting profile. The results showed that there are noticeable differences between the study sites in the practices and the ways hunters face the changes in environment and resources availability.

Les populations amérindiennes expérimentent depuis plusieurs décennies des changements socio-économiques et territoriaux importants, dans un contexte d'augmentation démographique forte. L'article aborde l'adaptation des systèmes d'occupation du territoire et d'exploitation des ressources naturelles des Amérindiens de Guyane française face aux contraintes exercées sur leur territoire et leur mode de vie. Quelle est la résilience des systèmes amérindiens d'utilisation du territoire et de ses ressources naturelles ? La concentration de l'habitat amérindien autour du bourg de Camopi, liée à l'implantation des infrastructures de type centre de santé et école, et à la promotion de l'habitat sédentaire, contribue à générer une pénurie des ressources naturelles et un mal-être social. Le système s'adapte par un éclatement de l'habitat en villages périphériques et par une extension des terroirs agricoles le long des cours d'eau, afin de retrouver de l'espace. Ces villages reproduisent un modèle d'organisation spatiale semblable à l'organisation traditionnelle des villages wayãpi et teko. L'habitat reste cependant sédentaire, les familles souhaitant voir leur village se faire équiper des services minimaux : eau potable et électrification. La limite spatiale à l'éclatement de l'habitat demeure les déplacements journaliers vers l'école, et par conséquent la desserte par le transport scolaire (pirogue). Ainsi, les services et infrastructures conditionnent l'occupation du territoire. Des abattis complémentaires sont maintenus à plus grande distance du bourg et l'habitat devient bilocal : un habitat principal desservi par les services et infrastructures et un habitat secondaire, éloigné et itinérant, conditionné par la qualité des terres agricoles, les ressources cynégétiques, l'histoire du lieu et les réseaux familiaux. Le maintien de ces habitations éloignées est possible grâce à l'investissement des revenus issus des aides sociales dans le transport. Il est ainsi montré que les systèmes amérindiens d'occupation du territoire et d'exploitation des ressources naturelles ont un potentiel adaptatif fort : ils s'appuient sur la recomposition de mobilités circulaires, organisées selon un gradient d'intensité d'utilisation des ressources, qui garantit la durabilité du système.

BackgroundPalikur Amerindians live in the eastern part of French Guiana which is undergoing deep-seated changes due to the geographical and economic opening of the region. So far, Palikur’s traditional ecological knowledge is poorly documented, apart from medicinal plants. The aim of this study was to document ethnobotanical practices related to traditional construction in the region.MethodsA combination of qualitative and quantitative methods was used. Thirty-nine Palikur men were interviewed in three localities (Saint-Georges de l’Oyapock, Regina and Trois-Palétuviers) between December 2013 and July 2014. Twenty-four inventories of wood species used in traditional buildings were conducted in the villages, as well as ethnobotanical walks in the neighboring forests, to complete data about usable species and to determine Linnaean names.ResultsAfter an ethnographic description of roundwood Palikur habitat, the in situ wood selection process of Palikur is precisely described.A total of 960 roundwood pieces were inventoried in situ according to Palikur taxonomy, of which 860 were beams and rafters, and 100 posts in 20 permanent and 4 temporary buildings. Twenty-seven folk species were identified. Sixty-three folk species used in construction were recorded during ethnobotanical walks. They correspond to 263 botanical species belonging to 25 families.Posts in permanent buildings were made of yawu (Minquartia guianensis) (51%) and wakap (Vouacapoua americana) (14%). Beams and rafters were made of wood from Annonaceae (79%) and Lecythidaceae (13%) families. The most frequently used species were kuukumwi priye (Oxandra asbeckii), kuukumwi seyne (Pseudoxandra cuspidata), and pukuu (Xylopia nitida and X. cayennensis).ConclusionsAlthough the Palikur’s relationship with their habitat is undergoing significant changes, knowledge about construction wood is still very much alive in the Oyapock basin. Many people continue to construct traditional buildings alongside modern houses, using a wide array of species described here for the first time, along with the techniques used.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s13002-018-0226-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.