Ethnobiology has been defi ned classically as the study of the interactions of people and the environment. It is in fact a complex fi eld of knowledge and action that interfaces with many scientifi c disciplines. These interfaces result in different approaches and theoretical challenges. Ethnobiology occupies a privileged position because of its potential to integrate local and global knowledge, to connect cultures and academic approaches, and to relate biological and social aspects of the human experience to the environment. The term “ ethnobiology” refers to a union of competences that encompass aspects ranging from cultural to biological, comprising the study of very diverse relationships. It is challenging to defi ne such a complex fi eld, which involves different approaches and theoretical problems. Classically, ethnobiology has been defi ned as the study of the interactions of people and the environment. This sometimes makes it appear that the term is associated with human ecology and ethnoecology 1 . Darrell Posey ( 1987a ), one of the greats of ethnobiology, sees it as the study of knowledge and concepts developed by any culture on biology. 1 In this regard, for further debate, see Begossi ( 1993 , 2004 ) and Alves and Souto ( 2010 ). In another chapter of this book, we introduce a discussion on the relationships between ethnobiology and ethnoecology. This chapter is a revised and updated version of the “Introduction” published in the book Ethnobiology and Biodiversity (Albuquerque 2005 ). U. P. Albuquerque (*) Laboratory of Applied and Theoretical Ethnobiology, Department of Biology , Federal Rural University of Pernambuco , Rua Dom Manoel de Medeiros s/n, Dois Irmãos , 52171-900 Recife , Pernambuco , Brazil e-mail: upa677@hotmail.com A. G. C. Alves Department of Biology , Federal Rural University of Pernambuco , Rua Dom Manoel de Medeiros s/n, Dois Irmãos , 52171-900 Recife , Pernambuco , Brazil e-mail: agcalves.ufrpe@gmail.com

Introduction to Ethnobiology

Tropical Forests, People and Food: Biocultural Interactions and Applications to Development

Perez, M., Marasas, M.E. (2013). Regulating services and management practices: contributions to horticulture with agroecological bases. Ecosistemas 22(1):36-43. Doi.: 10.7818/ECOS.2013.22-1.07
The importance of agroecological management practices has been widely discussed in the literature. The relationship between these practices and the regulating services in agroecosystems is an essential contribution to the development of sustainable production systems. This paper analyzes the relationship between agroecological management practices in horticulture and different regulating services to farm scale. It aims to establish a framework that facilitate technicians, researchers and policy makers, advancing technological alternatives that promote agroecological transition processes. Knowledge of the interactions between practices and services is necessary for decision making concerning the agro-ecosystems management and biodiversity conservation, particularly in agricultural systems.

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Servicios de regulación y prácticas de manejo: aportes para una horticultura de base agroecológica

Urban medicinal plant use: Do migrant and non-migrant populations have similar hybridisation processes?

Fil: Paleologos, Maria Fernanda. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas; Argentina

https://dialnet.unirioja.es/descarga/articulo/6354677.pdf

Las relaciones ecológicas: un aspecto central en el rediseño de agroecosistemas sustentables, a partir de la Agroecología

El estudio de la relacion existente entre la diversidad vegetal y la entomofauna constituye un elemento importante para el diseno de agroecosistemas sustentables. Los ambientes semi-naturales en campos cultivados, pueden proveer condiciones adecuadas para la presencia de enemigos naturales, favoreciendo la regulacion de plagas y disminuyendo el uso de insumos quimicos. Con este fin, se determinaron las caracteristicas de la vegetacion y su relacion con la artropodofauna, epifita (trampas de red) y epigea (trampas pitfall), en 13 ambientes semi-naturales en 3 fincas horticolas de La Plata. Se determinaron riqueza especifica; de familias; de generos; numero de especies pertenecientes a las familias Apiaceae, Fabaceae y Asteraceae y su presencia en cada ambiente. La riqueza especifica, de generos y familias vegetales vario entre ambientes. Se identificaron 51 especies vegetales, 47 generos y 18 familias. Se hallaron 2260 artropodos. Entre los enemigos naturales, se capturaron microhymenopteros y predadores como Aracnidos, Opiliones y Coleopteros (Carabidae, Coccinelidae y Staphylinidae). El numero de enemigos naturales fue diferente segun los ambientes. La abundancia de los organismos epifitos fue mas variable entre ambientes (CV: 59%) que el numero de organismos epigeos (CV: 40%). Las caracteristicas de la vegetacion mostraron una mayor correlacion con la fauna epifita que con la epigea. Los resultados indicaron que la composicion y estructura vegetal de los ambientes semi-naturales de las fincas horticolas de La Plata, permitiria albergar enemigos naturales con habitat y habitos distintos, que podrian contribuir a la regulacion de plagas en estos sistemas.

/pdf/abundancia-y-diversidad-de-la-entomofauna-asociada-a-222jdd1ndx.pdf

Abundancia y Diversidad de la Entomofauna Asociada a Ambientes Semi-Naturales en Fincas Hortícolas de La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Fil: Pochettino, Maria Lelia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Laboratorio de Etnobotanica y Botanica Aplicada; Argentina

Horticultura periurbana: estudios etnobotánicos en huertos familiares y comerciales de la Argentina

Two key components of biocultural diversity are agrobiodiversity and knowledge. There is scarce information regarding seed conservation practices for rural–urban fringe areas, where the Green Revolution model is part of farmers’ rationality. The dynamics of such practice can be observed in La Plata’s Green Belt (Argentina). Conserved seeds and conservation criteria are recorded, in an area where 71.5% of cultivated (traditional and commercial) agrobiodiversity is conserved. With the introduction of commercial seeds, a process appears in which local wisdom comes into play to adapt to external requirements, which leads to the generation of new knowledge. The relation of this practice with the sustainability of family agroecosystems is analyzed.

Seed Conservation by Family Farmers in the Rural–Urban Fringe Area of La Plata Region, Argentina: The Dynamics of an Ancient Practice

Se analizo el conocimiento sobre la agrobiodiversidad y el impacto del manejo sobre su conservacion, en agricultores horticolas de La Plata agrupados segun su posibilidad de incorporar insumos externos en capitalizados, familiares y organicos. Para su analisis se construyeron, estandarizaron y ponderaron indicadores de acuerdo a su importancia. Los agricultores organicos presentaron un mayor conocimiento de la biodiversidad y un manejo que conserva las bases ecologicas del sistema. En agricultores familiares el conocimiento y manejo de la biodiversidad fueron mas bajos y en los agricultores capitalizados, menores aun. Se concluye que la menor posibilidad de los agricultores familiares y organicos, de incorporar insumos, promueve un mayor conocimiento y valoracion de la biodiversidad y sobre su rol en el funcionamiento del agroecosistema.

María Margarita Bonicatto

Papers

Abundancia y Diversidad de la Entomofauna Asociada a Ambientes Semi-Naturales en Fincas Hortícolas de La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Horticultura periurbana: estudios etnobotánicos en huertos familiares y comerciales de la Argentina

Seed Conservation by Family Farmers in the Rural–Urban Fringe Area of La Plata Region, Argentina: The Dynamics of an Ancient Practice

Análisis del Conocimiento y Manejo de la Agrobiodiversidad en Horticultores Capitalizados, Familiares y Orgánicos de La Plata, Argentina.

Horticultura periurbana: estudios etnobotánicos en huertos familiares de la Argentina