Conhecimento ecológico local de pescadores sobre a alimentação de peixes de um rio tropical oligotrófico na Amazônia oriental

Abstract

Traditional knowledge, although often underestimated in fisheries resource management, constitutes an important source for understanding resource dynamics in the Amazon. This study analyzed the ethnoknowledge of artisanal fishermen regarding the diet of the main ethnospecies in the middle and lower Tapajós River. considering the different phases of the flood pulse in this hydrological regime. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and the responses categorized into trophic classes: animal origin, plant origin, organic matter, and combination of both. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square test, and simple correspondence analysis. With a total number of 18 ethnospecies, with tucunaré, aracu, acarás, pacu, and pescada being the most prominent. The results indicate that fishermen recognize variations in the species' diet throughout the hydrological cycle, with a higher frequency of plant-based items during the flood season, this being the main association observed. The perceptions showed a high degree of convergence with the scientific literature. These findings reinforce the potential of local ecological knowledge as a basis for participatory management strategies and governance of fisheries resources in the Amazon.