Variation in dietary resilience among Amazonian populations living in a context of dramatic seasonal flooding

Abstract

Every year, during one the planet’s greatest seasonal flooding events, Central Amazonian rivers inundate farmland and expand aquatic habitats, making fish harder to catch. Understudied is whether this hydrological regime impacts human dietary intakes/sufficiency, and, if so, whether it varies between communities in seasonally flooded (várzea) and non-flooded (terra firme) zones. To address this gap, we collected dietary data on 8,100 meals over the course of the hydrological cycle in six várzea and three terra firme communities, and calculated energy, carbohydrate, protein, and fat intake. Diets were dominated by fish (44%), the main source of protein and fat, and manioc flour (26%), the main source of energy and carbohydrate. Fish consumption fell as water levels rose, resulting in reduced energy and macronutrient intake in várzea communities. Terra firme communities showed greater seasonal resilience, maintaining protein and fat levels largely by increasing the consumption of wildmeat and fatty palm fruits, respectively.