Conhecimento ecológico local sobre espécies de anfíbios anuros e biocontrole de insetos pragas em sistemas agrícolas de região semiárida brasileira: subsídios à etnoconservação

Abstract

Historically, agriculture in the semiarid region of northeastern Brazil is nomadic, traveling or migration ; farmers deforestation, burn, fertilize the soil, plant for a short period and migrate to other areas where repeat the same practice , and use significant amounts of pesticides for combating pests. This activity has caused significant loss of quality of life and local biodiversity. In the context of biodiversity, Amphibian Anura stand out, which include frogs, toads and jewelry, are relevant in chains and ecological webs, especially because they are bio-indicators of environmental quality and biocontrol of insect populations, establishing a natural control pests in agricultural areas. Despite their importance in the last two decades there has been decline and disappearance of some species of Anura in Brazil and around the world; since they are sensitive to environmental changes, reducing species may be due to human activities related to the devastation of natural areas for use of agricultural land, mining or pasture. In this context, there are no studies that address on the interactions and recognition of agricultural communities and amphibians, especially in semi-arid region of northeastern Brazil, like those under the influence of River Basin San Francisco, where communities living from agriculture and livestock as main economic activities using the water of this river for irrigation. Itaparica region and their agricultural systems are part of a broad research project and binational, Brazil - Germany (INNOVATE Project), which has the objective to identify the multiple reservoir water uses and analyze innovations for the management of resources water and land, and whose subproject, SP-4 - Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, this thesis is integral. In this scenario and context, the general objective of this thesis was to record, describe and qualitatively analyze the knowledge of local communities on the species of amphibians and their biology, aimed at recognizing these as insect biocontrol pests in agricultural systems in place to agrochemicals, to promote the conservation of frogs and improve the quality of life of local farmers for sustainability. The communities studied, Petrolândia and Itacuruba, are situated to the average margins São Francisco River, State of Pernambuco, where the fieldwork was carried out for four trips, two to each of the cities studied, between the months from November / 2012 to April / 2013. A total of 369 male farmers were interviewed, whose ages ranged from 18 to 65 years old.They were asked about agricultural practices and biology of species of amphibians. For the identification of the species, they were initially made visual stimuli, with the help of photographs of common species in areas of caatinga. This method served to guide respondents contextually, ensuring that the interviews were directed to the same object (anurans) in order to collect accurate data ethnobiological. Later, the species of amphibians most mentioned in the interviews were collected by active search throughout the agricultural areas and Caatinga surrounding (part of secondary data from Project Innovate). To characterize the breeding sites and development of anurans in agricultural areas were prepared oral maps obtained from conducted tours to farmers who cited the existence of breeding sites in their areas of cultivation, which were georeferenced. Local farmers recognized and named eight ethnospecies, which correspond to 13 species of amphibians, as well as major sites of reproduction and development. From this information, we were prepared two georeferenced maps, mainly related to breeding sites, which show 13 breeding sites in Itacuruba six in Petrolândia / PE. The responses of farmers also possible to identify the values assigned to amphibians in the agricultural areas, through knowledge about their eating habits, to cite that amphibians eat mostly insects (65% of farmers Petrolândia, n = 238; 58% in Itacuruba, n = 131), demonstrating knowledge of the participation of these animals in the environmental balance and can control agricultural pests. Not found-site design differences, the importance of amphibians in pest control, between irrigated and non-irrigated systems. Farmers Petrolândia (83%, n = 238) and Itacuruba (78%, n = 131) reported having identified by observations on the spot that amphibians feed on local agricultural pests, making it possible to infer that are biocontrol of these pests. They were also quite emphatic in stating that amphibians should be preserved (78%, n = 238 in Petrolândia, 73%, n = 131 in Itacuruba), mainly feed on insect pests, and not pose a threat to agricultural communities. These responses allowed for the creation of an illustrated booklet in Cordel literature, which will be distributed and disseminated in schools, agricultural cooperatives and community associations of municipalities studied, such as the Science popularization instrument on the importance of amphibians in biocontrol of agricultural pests, replacing the use of agrochemicals. However, although local farmers stress the importance of Amphibian and its preservation to control insect pests, they do not accept them as allies in natural pest control to replace agrochemicals. The popularization of science through the Cordel Illustrated is the first step towards sustainability by sustainable agricultural and viable alternatives practices aimed at the conservation of species and local activities.