Biodiversity, food consumption and ecological niche dimension: a study case of the riverine populations from the Rio Negro, Amazonia, Brazil

Abstract

In this study we perform an ecological analysis of the resources use in the diet of the ribeirinho populations of the Barcelos municipality, Rio Negro, Amazonas, Brazil. Data on food composition, seasonality, and origin took place during three field trips between 1999 and 2000. Data were gathered based on structured interviews and observations from a total of 320 meals of 114 randomly selected families and 164 fishing trips. The staple food of the studied populations is based on fish and manioc, although the food niche amplitude can vary according to the factors such as the access to imported food items, resources seasonality, and socio-economic conditions. The migration to urban centers along with the changes in subsistence activities (reduction of small-scale agriculture and specialization in commercial fishing) may result in changes in the food habits of ribeirinho populations from Rio Negro.Keywords Amazonia Á Diet Á Fishing Á Ribeirinho Á Rio Negro Readers should send their comments on this paper to: BhaskarNath@aol.com within 3 months of publication of this issue.

Comida de gente: preferências e tabus alimentares entre os ribeirinhos do Médio Rio Negro (Amazonas, Brasil)

“…Prova disso é que o consumo de macacos foi observado em diversas ocasiões durante o trabalho de campo. Em 119 registros de caça realizados em Barcelos, foram efetuadas 12 capturas de diferentes espécies (por exemplo, guariba, macaco-prego, macaco-bicó e macaco-uacari) para consumo e comércio (Silva & Begossi, 2004). Como enfatizado pela literatura, os primatas são largamente consumidos por populações humanas na região amazônica, tanto por indígenas quanto por mestiços (Alvard, 1993(Alvard, , 1998Bodmer et al, 1994;Robinson & Bennett, 2000).…”

“…No Rio Negro, tucunarés gigantes são considerados mães de peixe, que punem os pescadores que pescam excessivamente (Silva & Begossi, 2004). O tucunaré-paca, tucunaré-podrão ou sarabiano (Cichla temensis), maior entre seus congêneres, é considerado mãe de peixe, sendo uma espécie carregada de significados míticos: "[...] tucunaré sarabiano é filho de açu, tem muita gente que não come.…”

Foraging behaviour of Brazilian riverine and coastal fishers: How much is explained by the optimal foraging theory?

“…For example, in the Amazonian region, slash-and-burn cassava agriculture is essential for fi shers' subsistence, as cassava fl our represents their main source of carbohydrate. They have to share their working time between fi shing and planting/harvesting, which may reduce fi shing pressure (Silva & Begossi 2009). This was also the case on the Atlantic coast, but continuous regulation by the Brazilian Federal Environmental Agency hampered the slash-and-burn agriculture, which could have increased the fi shing pressure.…”

Fish landings in Barcelos, in the Middle Negro River Region, Amazonas

“…However, fishing on the Middle Negro River is one of the main economic activities of the local population, who depend on it directly or indirectly for survival [3] as it provides an important part of their income and is also their main source of protein. In addition to subsistence and commercial fishing, leisure fishing and fishing for ornamental fish are also practiced in the region.…”