Ecological niche of family farmers in southern Minas Gerais state (Brazil)

Abstract

The concept of ecological niche, considered by the food dimension point of view, was used to characterize a small farmers community from the south of Minas Gerais State (Brazil). Ten small farmer families and 76 different meals eaten by them were evaluated in this study, during three different periods: September 1995 (end of the dry season), December 1995 (rainy season) and April 1996 (end of the rainy season). The analysed community appeared to depend markedly on certain food items showing little seasonal variation in their diet and appeared also to be self-sufficient in food supply, with satisfactory nutritional status. The food niche breadth for the studied small farmer families was always below 50%, with high seasonal overlap of the food niche, around 72% to 80%. The results are discussed based on social-cultural, economical and agrarian context.

Protected Area Establishment and Its Implications for Local Food Security

“…Niche breadth, which represents the set of resources that are exploited by an organism or a population, was also measured (Begossi & Richerson, 1993). Thus, greater diversity may reflect greater niche breadth (generalist diet), whereas a lower diversity of consumed items reflects a narrower niche (specialist diet) (Cavallini & Nordi, 2005;Hanazaki & Begossi, 2003). Diversity indices were used to measure niche breadth for each community and to analyze diet overlap (Hardesty, 1975).…”

“…Analyses based on ecological concepts can reveal spatial and temporal differences in the use of natural resources (Begossi & Richerson, 1993;Cavallini & Nordi, 2005;Hanazaki & Begossi, 2000). In human populations, household income also influences availability and access to resources (Begossi & Richerson, 1993;Hanazaki & Begossi, 2000;MacCord & Begossi, 2006;Nascimento et al, 2010;Silva & Begossi, 2009).…”

“…Understanding the differences in the diets among the communities also improves the understanding of the relationship between humans and their environments (Begossi & Richerson, 1993;Cavallini & Nordi, 2005;Hanazaki & Begossi, 2000;McCune & Kuhnlein, 2011). The livelihoods of people in Praia Grande include food cultivation (such as home gardens, crops, orchards, and vegetable gardens) and livestock-rearing practices that, together with higher incomes, reduce their direct dependence on their environmental surroundings, including resources within the park boundaries.…”

“…In addition, the concept of the ecological niche has been widely applied as a useful tool in the analysis of the inclusion and importance of natural resources in the diets of human populations (Begossi & Richerson, 1993;Cavallini & Nordi, 2005;Hanazaki & Begossi, 2000Hardesty, 1975;MacCord & Begossi, 2006;Silva & Begossi, 2009). The concept of the ecological niche, when applied to human groups, is delimited by the integration of physical, biological, and cultural factors that together establish the subsistence pattern of a group of people (Hardesty, 1975).…”

“…The concept of the ecological niche, when applied to human groups, is delimited by the integration of physical, biological, and cultural factors that together establish the subsistence pattern of a group of people (Hardesty, 1975). The differences among human groups with respect to an ecological niche dimension (e.g., the food dimension) can help to explain the interaction of these groups with their environments (Begossi & Richerson, 1993;Cavallini & Nordi, 2005;Hanazaki & Begossi, 2000;Hardesty, 1975) as well as the changes that may be experienced, as reflected by mutual influences between natural resources and diet (McCune & Kuhnlein, 2011). In addition, knowledge of the origin and significance of food resources and an understanding of local agroforestry systems can improve food security in areas that are of central importance for biodiversity conservation.…”