Long‐term influence of early human occupations on current forests of the Guiana Shield

• DOI: 10.1002/ecy.2806
• Publication Date: 2019-07-01T07:08:21Z
• Authors: Guillaume Odonne; Martijn van den Bel; Maxime Burst; Olivier Brunaux; Miléna Bruno; Etienne Dambrine; Damien Davy; Mathilde Desprez; Julien Engel; Bruno Ferry; Vincent Freycon; Pierre Grenand; Sylvie Jérémie; Mickael Mestre; Jean‐François Molino; Pascal Petronelli; Daniel Sabatier; Bruno Hérault
• Keywords: Basal area; Burseraceae; Gallery forest

Abstract To decipher the long‐term influences of pre‐Columbian land occupations on contemporary forest structure, diversity, and functioning in Amazonia, most previous research focused alluvial plains major rivers Amazon basin. Terra firme, that is, nonflooded forests, particularly from Guiana Shield, are yet to be explored. In this study, we aim give new insights into subtle traces present‐day forests given archaeological context terra firme Shield. Following prospects 13 sites French Guiana, carried out inventories inside outside assessed potential use sampled tree species using an original ethnobotanical database Shield region. Aboveground biomass (320 380 T/ha, respectively), basal area (25–30 30–35 m 2 /ha, density (550 700 stem/ha, respectively) were all significantly lower anthropized plots (As) than nonanthropized ( NA s). Ancient human presence shaped composition with Arecaceae, Burseraceae, Lauraceae more frequent As Annonaceae Lecythidaceae s. Although alpha diversity was not different between s, enhances beta at landscape level. Finally, trees edible fruits positively associated sites, whereas used for construction or their bark negatively sites. Half a millennium after abandonment, former occupied places inner still bear noticeable differences places. Considering lack data concerning archaeology Amazonian our results suggest structure (lower current biomass), (higher diversity), (linked past uses) might important previously thought.