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Pre-contact and post-colonial ecological legacies shape Surinamese rainforests
Nina H Witteveen1, Cheryl White2, Barbara A Sánchez-Martínez1
1Department of Ecosystem and Landscape Dynamics, Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Ecology
|April 9, 2024
Summary
Ecological legacies from past human activities in Amazonian forests are often localized, not widespread. Their persistence depends on the type, timing, and intensity of disturbances like fire and deforestation.
Area of Science:
- Tropical ecology
- Paleoecology
- Archaeobotany
Background:
- Tropical forests exhibit long-lasting ecological impacts from disturbances, known as ecological legacies.
- The spatial extent and persistence of these legacies, particularly from pre-contact and post-colonial Amazonian periods, are not well understood.
- Past human activities, including soil modification, species enrichment, and fire, have shaped Amazonian forest composition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the fire and vegetation history of Amazonian forests.
- To determine the spatial and temporal extent of ecological legacies near a post-colonial archaeological site in Suriname.
- To understand the influence of past human practices on modern forest composition and resilience.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 15 soil cores collected at varying distances (0-10 km) from a Surinamese archaeological site.
- Reconstruction of fire history using charcoal analysis and vegetation history through pollen and macrobotanical analysis.
- Dating of events using radiocarbon methods to establish a timeline from 96 BC to the present.
Main Results:
- Fires occurred from 96 BC to recent times, significantly altering vegetation.
- Persistent ecological legacies from pre-contact and post-colonial fire and deforestation were primarily observed within 1 km of the archaeological site.
- Palm species (Attalea, Oenocarpus, Astrocaryum) enrichment was documented at different distances (0, 1, and 8 km) from the site.
Conclusions:
- Ecological legacies of past human activities in Amazonian forests are not spatially extensive or uniformly persistent.
- The persistence and extent of ecological legacies are contingent upon the timing, frequency, type, and intensity of the original disturbances.
- Understanding these legacies is vital for assessing forest resilience and supporting Indigenous and local land rights in the Amazon.
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