ABSTRACT Upper montane ecosystems in Brazil are little known, and their structural and functional aspects poorly understood. Our goals were to describe tree species diversity and community structure, and to characterize tree species in relation to their ecological traits, phytogeographic history and conservation status in an upper montane araucaria forest remnant. A total of 26 species belonging to 18 families were found in a 1-hectare permanent plot. The tree community mainly comprised trees with diameters of less than 20 cm and heights of between 6.5 and 9.5 m. Drimys angustifolia and Myrceugenia regnelliana had the highest importance values. Most species were shade tolerant while most individuals were pioneers. Most species and individuals presented zoophily and zoochory. Most sampled species and individuals were related to araucaria forests. Seven species are threatened to some degree while one species, Crinodendron brasiliensis, besides threatened, is also endemic to the region. The presence of endemic and endangered species demonstrates that the studied area serves important conservation purposes. Furthermore, the present study demonstrates the important role that upper montane regions have for conservation and describes the structural patterns of still poorly studied habitats, reinforcing the importance such systems have in maintaining species diversity at high elevations.

Abstract Although manioc is well adapted to nutrient-poor Oxisols of Amazonia, ethnobotanical observations show that bitter manioc is also frequently cultivated in the highly fertile soils of the floodplains and Amazonian dark earths (ADE) along the middle Madeira River. Because different sets of varieties are grown in each soil type, and there are agronomic similarities between ADE and floodplain varieties, it was hypothesized that varieties grown in ADE and floodplain were more closely related to each other than either is to varieties grown in Oxisols. We tested this hypothesis evaluating the intra-varietal genetic diversity and the genetic relationships among manioc varieties commonly cultivated in Oxisols, ADE and floodplain soils. Genetic results did not agree with ethnobotanical expectation, since the relationships between varieties were variable and most individuals of varieties with the same vernacular name, but grown in ADE and floodplain, were distinct. Although the same vernacular name could not always be associated with genetic similarities, there is still a great amount of variation among the varieties. Many ecological and genetic processes may explain the high genetic diversity and differentiation found for bitter manioc varieties, but all contribute to the maintenance and amplification of genetic diversity within the manioc in Central Amazonia.

ABSTRACT We studied the population structure and fruit availability of the babassu palm, Attalea speciosa, in three human-dominated landscapes located near a rural community in the region of Araripe, in the Northeast Region of Brazil, that were under intense fruit harvest. Fifty 10 x 10 m plots were randomly established in each of the three landscapes, and all individuals of A. speciosa within the plots were classified as seedlings, juveniles or adults, with the height of all adult individuals being measured. An additional 20 individuals were marked in each landscape, and the number of total bunches, fruits per bunch and bunches per palm tree were recorded. The populations of A. speciosa in the three landscapes exhibited an inverted J-shape plot, but pasture and shifting cultivation possessed a significantly higher number of individuals, seedlings and adults than the seasonal semideciduous forest, plus they possessed a greater seedling/adult ratio. Shifting cultivation was found to be favorable for fructification. The present study found that shifting cultivation and pastures are landscape practices that can contribute to the rapid expansion and establishment of A. speciosa, which can become a dominant species in the region of Araripe.

RESUMO Sementes de Araucaria angustifolia servem de base para a economia de muitas famílias rurais do sul do Brasil e apresenta diferentes variedades botânicas. Este estudo objetivou avaliar a diversidade das características físicas, fisiológicas e bioquímicas de sementes de Araucaria angustifolia das variedades locais sancti josephi, angustifolia, caiova e indehiscens. Sementes foram coletadas nos municípios de Painel e Urubici - Santa Catarina e submetidas aos testes: grau de umidade, massa de 1000 sementes, emergência, índice de velocidade de emergência - IVE, comprimento da raiz e parte aérea, condutividade elétrica, tetrazólio, teores de açucares solúveis e amido. A variedade angustifolia de Painel apresentou maior massa de sementes e vigor pelo IVE, condutividade elétrica e comprimento parte aérea. Enquanto, a variedade sancti josephi apresentou baixa porcentagem de emergência, massa de sementes, IVE, comprimento de raiz/parte aérea e teores de açucares. Na análise de cluster baseada na distância euclidiana, verificaram-se três grupos formados pelas variedades sancti josephi, indehiscens e caiova/angustifolia. As variedades angustifolia e caiova apresentaram similaridade e melhor qualidade fisiológica. A caracterização destas variedades possibilitou obter informações que podem auxiliar na coleta e aproveitamento das sementes para produção de mudas e conservação da espécie.

ABSTRACT Araucaria angustifolia seeds are the basis for the rural economy in southern Brazil, and the species presents different botanical varieties. The objective of this work was to evaluate the diversity of physical, physiological and biochemical characteristics of Araucaria angustifolia seeds from local varieties: 'sancti josephi', 'angustifolia', 'caiova', and 'indehiscens'. Seeds were collected from the cities of Painel and Urubici in Santa Catarina State and tested for moisture content, 1000-seed weight, emergence, emergence speed index (ESI), root and shoot length, electrical conductivity, tetrazolium, soluble carbohydrates, and starch content. Among the varieties cited above, the angustifolia variety from Painel displayed a greater 1000-seed weight, ESI, electrical conductivity and shoot length. However, the sancti josephi variety displayed a lower emergence percentage, 1000-seed weight, ESI, root and shoot length, and carbohydrate content. In a cluster analysis, based on Euclidean distance, three groups constituting the sancti josephi, indehiscens, and caiova/angustifolia varieties were found. In conclusion, there is great diversity in A. angustifolia seeds. The angustifolia and caiova varieties displayed similar diversity, and their physiological quality was better than that of other varieties. Variety characterization allowed for the compilation of information regarding seed collection and use for seedling production and species conservation.

Legal measures, such as the use of free or prior and informed consent, return of research results to communities (which can be understood as "sharing of benefits," according to Brazilian legislation), and research authorization by governmental bodies, are mentioned and regulated in various documents, either governmental or specific, within the area of ethnobiology. This study aims to explore how these matters are considered in the scope of published ethnobotany articles in Brazil, as well as whether the creation of the Provisional Measure 2.186-16/2001 has contributed to the national advance of these matters. The methodology comprised a literature review of articles focusing on medicinal and food plant resources in the prominent Brazilian journals which publish ethnobotany studies. From 137 articles analyzed, 8 mentioned the return of research results to the community; 21 explicitly cited the use of free or prior and informed consent; and 13 mentioned the authorization of governmental bodies. We expect that the present study will contribute to the debate regarding the necessity of reformulation of the current system, which would guarantee a more effective rapport between the government, researchers, local communities, and society and contribute to the development of ethnobotany in Brazil.

Este artigo analisa alguns dos fatores que afetam a distribuição do conhecimento sobre plantas medicinais em três comunidades de pescadores artesanais do Município de Itapoá, Santa Catarina, Brasil. Noventa entrevistas semi-estruturadas foram realizadas, o que resultou em 109 espécies de plantas citadas. A amostra foi composta por homens (n = 46) e mulheres (n = 44), em diferentes categorias de idade: 18-40 anos (n = 18), 41-50 (n = 21), 51-60 (n = 28), e 61 anos ou mais (n = 23), e em três diferentes comunidades: Barra do Saí (n = 17), Itapema do Norte (n = 31) e Pontal do Norte (n = 42). Folhas são as partes da plantas mais utilizadas (62%), sendo obtidas principalmente por cultivo. Cordia curassavica (Jacq.) Roem. & Schult. (Boraginaceae) é a espécie mais citada nas entrevistas, localmente chamada de "erva-baleeira" ou "erva-de-baleia". Os idosos têm um maior conhecimento sobre as espécies, mas não houve diferenças em relação ao sexo dos entrevistados. Um menor conhecimento sobre as plantas foi observado na área mais urbanizada, quando comparada com as áreas menos urbanizadas. As plantas mais utilizadas não estão relacionadas com as doenças mais freqüentes. As plantas medicinais são um recurso importante para a saúde dessas comunidades de pescadores, mas este conhecimento pode estar se deteriorando devido principalmente à falta de interesse dos membros mais jovens e à melhoria do acesso aos serviços públicos de saúde.

This article analyzes some of the factors affecting the distribution of knowledge about medicinal plants of three artisanal fishing communities in Itapoá Municipality, in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Ninety semi-structured interviews were performed, which resulted in 109 cited plant species. The sample included both men (n=46) and women (n=44), in different age categories: 18-40 years old (n=18), 41-50 (n=21), 51-60 (n=28), and 61+ years old (n=23), and in three different communities: Barra do Saí (n=17), Itapema do Norte (n=31) and Pontal do Norte (n=42). Leaves are the plant parts most used by the communities (62%), and are obtained primarily through cultivation. Cordia curassavica (Jacq.) Roem. & Schult. (Boraginaceae) is the species most cited in the interviews, locally known as 'erva-baleeira' or 'erva-de-baleia'. The elderly have greater knowledge of species, but no gender differences were noticed. Less knowledge of plants was noticed in the more urbanized area when compared to the less urbanized areas. The most used plants are not related to the most frequent ailments. Medicinal plant use is an important resource for the health of these fishing communities, but it is declining mostly due to the lack of interest on the part of the younger members, and to improved access to public health services.

O conhecimento ecológico tradicional ou local é construído a partir da relação contínua de humanos com o meio ambiente, principalmente pelo uso cotidiano das espécies. O abandono do uso, por sua vez, pode provocar perda desse tipo de conhecimento, o que freqüentemente decorre de mudanças no modo de vida. Neste trabalho buscou-se avaliar o conhecimento e o uso efetivo, atual e passado, de espécies vegetais das Florestas Estacional Decidual e Ombrófila Mista por agricultores familiares da região Oeste de Santa Catarina. Os métodos de coleta e análise de dados basearam-se numa integração de métodos qualitativos e quantitativos em Etnobotânica. Os resultados revelaram que esses agricultores possuem um amplo conhecimento a respeito das espécies florestais nativas da região e seu uso efetivo atual se destina ao autoconsumo nas unidades de produção, destacando-se a dependência do uso como lenha. No entanto, os usos madeireiros têm sido reduzidos nos últimos anos devido, principalmente, a limitações ao acesso legal às espécies florestais nativas. Agricultores com mais de 40 anos citaram uma riqueza maior de espécies, com uma distribuição mais equitativa dela, do que aqueles com menos de 40 anos. Houve também atenuação na correlação entre conhecimento e uso atual de espécies entre os mais jovens. Os dados sugerem que existe um processo gradual de perda das condições de transmissão do conhecimento tradicional local com risco de erosão do conhecimento acumulado.

Traditional or local ecological knowledge is developed from the continuous relationship between humans and their environment, mainly through the daily use of natural resources. The abandonment of uses, on the other hand, may cause the loss of this kind of knowledge, which frequently occurs due to changes in life style. In this paper, we aimed to evaluate the knowledge and the dynamics of the effective use of native forests in western Santa Catarina state, Brazil. Data collection and analysis were based on the integration of qualitative and quantitative ethnobotanical methods. The results revealed that farmers have comprehensive knowledge of the native forest species of the region and the effective present use of these forest resources is mainly for subsistence, highlighting the dependence of farmers on firewood. However, timber use has declined in recent years due, mainly, to limitations of legal access to native forest species. Farmers older than 40 years cited higher species richness, with a more equitable distribution of species, compared to younger farmers. In addition, attenuation of the correlation between knowledge and present use of species among younger people was noticed. The data suggest the existence of a gradual process of loss of transmission of traditional local knowledge and that there is a risk of erosion of accumulated knowledge.

We used simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers to investigate the genetic diversity of 78 sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) accessions (58 landraces and 20 putative clones) from traditional agricultural households from 19 local communities in the Vale do Ribeira, São Paulo, Brazil. Eight SSR loci were assessed using 6% (w/v) polyacrylamide gels stained with silver nitrate and the accessions genotyped considering the presence or absence of bands. The results were subjected to analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA), and cluster and principal coordinate analyses. Spatial structure was assessed using Mantel's test to compare genetic and geographic distances. Each primer pair generated between three and ten clearly scorable polymorphic fragments. Cluster analyses showed a Jaccard's index from 0.3 to 1.0, indicating high genetic and intravarietal diversity. Accessions from all 19 communities were not spatially structured (r = 0.15, p < 0.054), with AMOVA indicating that most of the variability (58.2%) was distributed within households and only 18.1% of the variability was distributed between households within communities. The outcrossing mating system of sweet potato, and anthropic factors such as selection of different varieties and their maintenance within household small plots and home gardens, as well as an extensive exchange system between agriculturists, may all be contributing to these results.

Avaliou-se a diversidade fenotípica de etnovariedades de batata-doce através de descritores morfológicos, visando verificar como esta diversidade está distribuída em nível de roças e comunidades do Vale do Ribeira, SP, Brasil. Foram avaliados, no total, 74 acessos, envolvendo 53 etnovariedades, coletadas em 30 roças, distribuídas em 18 comunidades de agricultores que praticam agricultura tradicional nos municípios de Iguape, Ilha Comprida e Cananéia, somadas a quatro variedades comerciais adquiridas em varejões de Iguape e Piracicaba. A avaliação foi realizada em condições experimentais ex situ em Piracicaba, SP. Foram avaliados nove descritores fenológicos e florais, nove descritores morfológicos da parte aérea e cinco da raiz. Os 14 descritores de parte aérea e raiz foram transformados em dados binários, totalizando 74 atributos. Foi realizada uma análise de agrupamento, empregando-se o coeficiente de similaridade de Jaccard e o método aglomerativo UPGMA (unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean). Os dados binários foram também submetidos a uma análise de variância (AMOVA). Não se detectou formação de grupos definidos, indicando que não há estruturação espacial da diversidade para as etnovariedades, mas observou-se grande variação morfológica (índice de Jaccard variando de 0,12 a 1,0) na região estudada. A maior parte da variabilidade encontra-se distribuída dentro de roças (64,4%), seguida pela distribuição entre roças dentro de comunidades (27,1%) e entre comunidades (8,4%). Portanto, os agricultores tradicionais no Vale do Ribeira cultivam em suas roças grande diversidade morfológica de batata-doce, cuja origem pode ter sido gerada pelo sistema reprodutivo da espécie por alogamia, por eventuais mutações somáticas e pelo amplo sistema de trocas entre agricultores em âmbito local e regional.

The phenotypic diversity of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) landraces was assessed using morphological traits, verifying how this diversity is distributed among the households and settlements of the Vale do Ribeira, Brazil. A total of 74 accessions, involving 53 landraces, collected from 30 households distributed among 18 settlements that practice traditional agriculture in the municipalities of Iguape, Ilha Comprida, and Cananeia, as well as four commercial varieties acquired in markets of Iguape and Piracicaba, were evaluated under an ex situ experimental condition in Piracicaba, SP, Brazil. Nine phenological and floral descriptors, nine morphological vegetative aerial descriptors and five storage root traits were recorded. The 14 aerial vegetative and root descriptors were evaluated as binary data, totaling 74 attributes. Cluster analyses were made using the Jaccard similarity index and the UPGMA (unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean) agglomerative method. Binary data was also submitted to a variance analysis (AMOVA). No defined groups were observed, indicating that the diversity of the landraces is not structured in space, but considerable morphological variation was found in this area (Jaccard similarity index varying from 0.12 to 1.0). Most of the variability occurred within households (64.4%), followed by the distribution among households within settlements (27.1%) and among settlements (8.4%). Thus, the traditional agriculturists of Vale do Ribeira maintain a high morphological diversity for sweet potato within their households, which can be assumed to be produced by the outcrossing mating system of this species and somatic mutation events, as well as the exchange system at local and regional levels.

O objetivo central deste artigo é caracterizar e comparar as estratégias dos meios de vida de duas comunidades da região estuarina do vale de Ribeira (Estado de São Paulo), analisando a inter-relação entre quatro atividades econômicas: agricultura de pequena escala, pesca, trabalhos relacionados ao turismo e extração de recursos vegetais não madeireiros. Os habitantes destas comunidades são na maior parte Caiçaras, nativos da costa sudeste do Brasil, vivendo em área do domínio Mata Atlântica. Caiçaras são descendentes de ameríndios e colonizadores europeus, com influências mais recentes de escravos africanos. Sua subsistência era baseada originalmente na agricultura itinerante de pequena escala, na pesca artesanal e, em menor grau, na extração de produtos florestais. Suas atividades de subsistência mudaram com o tempo: as práticas agrícolas foram abandonadas gradualmente, enquanto a pesca cresceu em importância. Recentemente, as atividades econômicas relacionadas ao turismo e à extração de recursos vegetais não madeireiros adquiriram um papel chave nos meios de subsistência dos Caiçaras desta região estuarina. Após uma contextualização histórica, nós focalizamos na análise dos fatores locais e das pressões externas que afetam a combinação destas atividades.

The central focus of this study is to characterize and compare the livelihood strategies of two coastal communities from the estuarine region of Ribeira Valley (São Paulo State, Southeastern Brazil), analyzing the interplay among four economic activities: small-scale agriculture, fishing, tourism-related jobs, and extraction of non-timber vegetal resources. The local people of these communities are mostly Caiçara, the native inhabitants of southeastern Brazilian coast, in an Atlantic forest area. The miscegenation of Amerindians, European colonizers, and African Brazilians gave rise to the Caiçara people, whose subsistence was originally based on small-scale itinerant agriculture, small-scale fishery, and some extraction of forest products. Their livelihoods activities changed through time: agricultural practices were gradually abandoned, while fishing grew in importance. Recently, tourism-related jobs and the extraction of non-timber vegetal resources acquired a key role in the estuarine Caiçara livelihood. After an historical overview, we focus our analysis on the local factors and external pressures affecting the combination of these activities.

O objetivo central deste artigo é caracterizar e comparar as estratégias dos meios de vida de duas comunidades da região estuarina do vale de Ribeira (Estado de São Paulo), analisando a inter-relação entre quatro atividades econômicas: agricultura de pequena escala, pesca, trabalhos relacionados ao turismo e extração de recursos vegetais não madeireiros. Os habitantes destas comunidades são na maior parte Caiçaras, nativos da costa sudeste do Brasil, vivendo em área do domínio Mata Atlântica. Caiçaras são descendentes de ameríndios e colonizadores europeus, com influências mais recentes de escravos africanos. Sua subsistência era baseada originalmente na agricultura itinerante de pequena escala, na pesca artesanal e, em menor grau, na extração de produtos florestais. Suas atividades de subsistência mudaram com o tempo: as práticas agrícolas foram abandonadas gradualmente, enquanto a pesca cresceu em importância. Recentemente, as atividades econômicas relacionadas ao turismo e à extração de recursos vegetais não madeireiros adquiriram um papel chave nos meios de subsistência dos Caiçaras desta região estuarina. Após uma contextualização histórica, nós focalizamos na análise dos fatores locais e das pressões externas que afetam a combinação destas atividades.

The central focus of this study is to characterize and compare the livelihood strategies of two coastal communities from the estuarine region of Ribeira Valley (São Paulo State, Southeastern Brazil), analyzing the interplay among four economic activities: small-scale agriculture, fishing, tourism-related jobs, and extraction of non-timber vegetal resources. The local people of these communities are mostly Caiçara, the native inhabitants of southeastern Brazilian coast, in an Atlantic forest area. The miscegenation of Amerindians, European colonizers, and African Brazilians gave rise to the Caiçara people, whose subsistence was originally based on small-scale itinerant agriculture, small-scale fishery, and some extraction of forest products. Their livelihoods activities changed through time: agricultural practices were gradually abandoned, while fishing grew in importance. Recently, tourism-related jobs and the extraction of non-timber vegetal resources acquired a key role in the estuarine Caiçara livelihood. After an historical overview, we focus our analysis on the local factors and external pressures affecting the combination of these activities.

A agricultura itinerante, caracterizada por ciclos de uso e pousio, é uma técnica utilizada por muitos agricultores no mundo, assim como por agricultores tradicionais da região de Cananéia (SP). Estes agricultores herdaram toda um gama de conhecimentos transmitidos oralmente sobre a agricultura praticada por povos indígenas desde o período pré colonial. A mandioca é o principal cultivo neste sistema, o que a torna um organismo chave para entender as especificidades do sistema agrícola itinerante. Foram obtidas informações sobre as espécies cultivadas no sistema itinerante, e mais especificamente sobre as etnovariedades de mandioca. Entrevistas com os agricultores permitiram caracterizar o sistema utilizado, demonstrando que na propriedade estudada podem ser cultivadas até 62 etnovariedades pertencentes a 15 espécies diferentes, mostrando a grande diversidade tanto inter como intra específica. O objetivo principal foi aferir a identificação feita pelo agricultor das etnovariedades de mandioca (Manihot esculenta Crantz) cultivadas intra-roça e a divergência morfológica entre elas. Através da avaliação de 21 caracteres morfológicos avaliados in situ, em uma roça de agricultores tradicionais da comunidade de Ariri (Cananéia), e utilizando análise de componentes principais (PCA) e análise de agrupamento, foi possível agrupar as etnovariedades em grupos coerentes com a classificação local. Além disso a metodologia empregada mostrou grande eficiência com dados tomados em condições não experimentais.

Shifting cultivation, or slash-and-burn agriculture, is a technique used by many farmers all over the world and also by traditional farmers of Cananéia (SP). These farmers have inherited a set of skills and knowledges, orally transferred through generations, about the agriculture carried out by indigenous people, since Brazil's pre-colonialist period. Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is the main crop in this system, representing a key crop for the understanding of the specificities of the shifting cultivation. Information about the crop species and ethnovarieties was obtained. Interviews with the farmers allowed to characterize the system used in the region, showing that 62 ethnovarieties of 15 different species were cultivated in the studied propriety, reflecting the high inter- and intraspecific diversity. Principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis were used to characterize cassava samples. Through the evaluation of 21 morphological characters in one traditional farmer's field, it was possible gather cassava ethnovarieties in groups coherent with the local classification. The employed methodology seems to be very efficient with data gathered in non-experimental conditions.