Amazon Forest Research Articles

Spatiotemporal Dengue Fever Incidence Associated with Climate in a Brazilian Tropical Region

Dengue is a serious infectious disease worldwide and a climate-sensitive disease. Thus, our goals were to (i) evaluate the relationship between dengue incidence and meteorological variables (rainfall and air temperature); (ii) identify the spatiotemporal pattern of dengue incidence in the municipalities of Mato Grosso from 2001 to 2020; and (iii) verify the spatial dependence of dengue incidence in the dry and wet seasons. We used dengue data from 2001 to 2020, monthly rainfall estimates from GPM, and daily air temperature estimates from ERA-5. The municipalities of the Mato Grosso state are included in 16 healthcare territories. The seasonal rainfall pattern indicates that the peak of the dengue endemic occurred in the wet season. However, drier and/or warmer places had a lower incidence of dengue in the dry season. Furthermore, a lagged effect of meteorological variables on dengue incidence has been identified, ranging from 0 to 7 months. Hotspot areas were identified which might have the potential for an intense spreading of dengue in Mato Grosso. They were mainly concentrated in the healthcare territory of Teles Pires (ID 14) in the dry season, while they were concentrated in the healthcare territories of Garças Araguaia (ID 5), Oeste (ID 11), and Teles Pires (ID 14) in the wet season. In addition, they are located in the Am climate and in the Amazon Forest and Brazilian savanna biomes, which have higher dengue incidence values. These results help to highlight which municipalities decision-makers must intervene in the public health system to prevent and control future epidemics.

Groundwater dominates terrestrial hydrological processes in the Amazon at the basin and subbasin scales

The hydrology of the Amazon River basin (ARB) has been extensively studied; however, critical scientific gaps remain regarding key processes that govern hydrologic dynamics and the resilience of the rainforest. This inhibits the understanding of hydrological considerations needed for sustainable forest management under climate change and growing human stressors. Here, using high resolution (∼2km), long-term simulations from a process-based hydrological model (LEAF-Hydro-Flood), we investigate the dominant hydrological processes across the ARB, their key roles in shaping basin functions, and the decadal evolution therein. Results indicate that shallow groundwater (<5m deep) strongly modulates the seasonality of the surface fluxes across the ARB and at least 34% of the Amazonian Forest is supported by groundwater during the dry season. A two-month lag between the seasonal peak of evapotranspiration (ET) and river discharge is a key mechanism that potentially prevents the rainforest from tipping into savanna. The dry season in the ARB is getting drier and the wet season is getting wetter, pointing to an accelerating hydrologic cycle. The ARB is dominantly energy limited, however, our results imply that in the absence of groundwater support, and with less than ∼125 mm/month of precipitation, the basin could have become water-limited over some regions. The long-term basin-averaged ET—dominated by transpiration—changed with a split pattern of ±9% in the past three decades. Similarly, water table depth (±19%) and runoff (±29%) changed with heterogenous patterns across the ARB. Further, the contribution of canopy interception loss and ground evaporation changed heterogeneously across the ARB in response to deforestation. River discharge did not change substantially due to the crucial buffering role of groundwater, but terrestrial water storage (TWS) decreased (increased) in the 2000s (2010s) compared to that in the 1990s. Although groundwater is the dominant contributor to total TWS, the dynamics of TWS over the major river channels are controlled by flood water, given relatively shallow groundwater. This study provides crucial insights on the dominant hydrological processes in the ARB to inform forest management practices.

High intraspecific growth variability despite strong evolutionary legacy in an Amazonian forest.

Tree growth is key to species performance. However, individual growth variability within species remains underexplored for a whole community, and the role of species evolutionary legacy and local environments remains unquantified. Based on 36 years of diameter records for 7961 trees from 138 species, we assessed individual growth across an Amazonian forest. We related individual growth to taxonomy, topography and neighbourhood, before exploring species growth link to functional traits and distribution along the phylogeny. We found most variation in growth among individuals within species, even though taxonomy explained a third of the variation. Species growth was phylogenetically conserved up to the genus. Traits of roots, wood and leaves were good predictors of growth, suggesting their joint selection during convergent evolutions. Neighbourhood crowding significantly decreased individual growth, although much of inter-individual variation remains unexplained. The high intraspecific variation observed could allow individuals to respond to the heterogeneous environments of Amazonian forests.

Genetic structure and kdr mutations in Aedes aegypti populations along a road crossing the Amazon Forest in Amapá State, Brazil

Insecticide resistance in Aedes aegypti poses a significant threat to disease control. One form of resistance, caused by kdr mutations in the NaV gene, hinders vector control efforts in Brazil. Despite genetic differences typically accumulating among isolated populations, this mosquito can actively and passively disperse through human transportation. Our study investigated the genetic structure and spread of kdr mutations in Ae. aegypti populations across six localities in Amapá State, Brazil, within the Amazonian Forest. Using 12 microsatellite loci and qPCR methods, we assessed genetic structure and identified three common kdr mutations (V410L, V1016I, and F1534C). High prevalence of kdr alleles was observed in all localities, indicating widespread distribution in Amapá State. Microsatellite analysis revealed differentiation among mosquito populations, dividing them into two distinct clusters supported by Bayesian and DAPC analyses. Oiapoque, located along the northern border with French Guiana, exhibited the highest kdr frequencies and genetic differentiation compared to other localities. Our findings suggest genetic structure in Ae. aegypti populations in Amapá State, with some passive gene flow between clusters. The study underscores the need for continuous surveillance of Ae. aegypti populations to monitor the spread of insecticide resistance and inform effective vector control strategies.

The effectiveness of ichthyochoric dispersal in forested wetlands of the Amazon depends on the species of fish and its size

The interaction between fish and plants in Amazon floodplain is fundamental for the maintenance of frugivorous fish and tree communities. The viability of seeds after passing through the digestive tract of fish is a central factor for seed dispersal since it can influence colonization and regeneration of these environments. Our study investigated the seed dispersal by frugivorous fish in a flooded forest in the Central Amazon. We also evaluated the seed germination speed after passage of the digestive tract of fish and how the size of fish and the seeds can influence the dispersion of tree seeds in floodplains. A total of 5,012 seeds from 49 plant species were found in the digestive tracts of 11 frugivorous fish species. The length and weight of the frugivorous fish were positively related to the size of seeds in the digestive tract. The germination of the seeds removed from the fish varied between species. The passage of the seeds of the different plant species through the digestive tracts of the fish did not significantly increase the germination speed. Considering the anthropogenic pressures present in these environments, we can expect that a reduction in body size for some species of fish, due to overexploitation, may have negative consequences for some tree species that are dispersed mainly via ichthyochory.

An updated molecular phylogeny of the stingless bees of the genus Trigona (Hymenoptera, Meliponini) of the northern Peruvian forests

Stingless bees (Hymenoptera, Meliponini) are a large and diverse group including 59 extant groups, representing the main pollinators of Amazon forests. Among those, Trigona is one of the largest endemic genera of Neotropical Meliponini. In this work, we updated the molecular phylogeny of Trigona proposed by Rasmussen and Camargo (2008), including data from 59 new specimens collected in 2020 in the forests of northern Peru, through a multigene phylogenetic approach combining sequences from four gene fragments (16S, ArgK, EF-1a, opsin). Our results confirmed the monophyly of Trigona and of all proposed subgenera, except Aphaneura. In addition, most Trigona species-groups resulted monophyletic but the ‘spinipes’ and ‘pallens’ groups appeared paraphyletic and polyphyletic, respectively. Moreover, the cohesion of the “fulviventris” species group was hindered by the inclusion of T. williana (previously included in the “pallens” group) within this clade. Finally, we provided further evidence for a subdivision into two (geographically) distinct clades within T. guianae in northern Peruvian Amazon, which highlighted the importance of Neotropical biogeographical barriers in Meliponini divergence and evolution. Finally, to avoid misidentifications of Trigona specimens, the need for a robust taxonomic revision based on a cladistic approach of the whole genus is discussed.

More than 10,000 pre-Columbian earthworks are still hidden throughout Amazonia.

Indigenous societies are known to have occupied the Amazon basin for more than 12,000 years, but the scale of their influence on Amazonian forests remains uncertain. We report the discovery, using LIDAR (light detection and ranging) information from across the basin, of 24 previously undetected pre-Columbian earthworks beneath the forest canopy. Modeled distribution and abundance of large-scale archaeological sites across Amazonia suggest that between 10,272 and 23,648 sites remain to be discovered and that most will be found in the southwest. We also identified 53 domesticated tree species significantly associated with earthwork occurrence probability, likely suggesting past management practices. Closed-canopy forests across Amazonia are likely to contain thousands of undiscovered archaeological sites around which pre-Columbian societies actively modified forests, a discovery that opens opportunities for better understanding the magnitude of ancient human influence on Amazonia and its current state.

Modeling early warning signs of possible Amazon Forest dieback.

Deforestation of the Amazon may reach a critical point where abrupt declines in rainfall could cause widespread forest dieback.

The Relaxed Eddy Accumulation Method Over the Amazon Forest: The Importance of Flux Strength on Individual and Aggregated Flux Estimates

The Relaxed Eddy Accumulation Method Over the Amazon Forest: The Importance of Flux Strength on Individual and Aggregated Flux Estimates

Structural changes of common tree species populations in a managed natural forest in Brazilian Amazon

Structural changes of common tree species populations in a managed natural forest in Brazilian Amazon

A biomass map of the Brazilian Amazon from multisource remote sensing

The Amazon Forest, the largest contiguous tropical forest in the world, stores a significant fraction of the carbon on land. Changes in climate and land use affect total carbon stocks, making it critical to continuously update and revise the best estimates for the region, particularly considering changes in forest dynamics. Forest inventory data cover only a tiny fraction of the Amazon region, and the coverage is not sufficient to ensure reliable data interpolation and validation. This paper presents a new forest above-ground biomass map for the Brazilian Amazon and the associated uncertainty both with a resolution of 250 meters and baseline for the satellite dataset the year of 2016 (i.e., the year of the satellite observation). A significant increase in data availability from forest inventories and remote sensing has enabled progress towards high-resolution biomass estimates. This work uses the largest airborne LiDAR database ever collected in the Amazon, mapping 360,000 km2 through transects distributed in all vegetation categories in the region. The map uses airborne laser scanning (ALS) data calibrated by field forest inventories that are extrapolated to the region using a machine learning approach with inputs from Synthetic Aperture Radar (PALSAR), vegetation indices obtained from the Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite, and precipitation information from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM). A total of 174 field inventories geolocated using a Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) were used to validate the biomass estimations. The experimental design allowed for a comprehensive representation of several vegetation types, producing an above-ground biomass map varying from a maximum value of 518 Mg ha−1, a mean of 174 Mg ha−1, and a standard deviation of 102 Mg ha−1. This unique dataset enabled a better representation of the regional distribution of the forest biomass and structure, providing further studies and critical information for decision-making concerning forest conservation, planning, carbon emissions estimate, and mechanisms for supporting carbon emissions reductions.

Impacts on South America moisture transport under Amazon deforestation and 2 °C global warming

The increase in greenhouse gasses (GHG) anthropogenic emissions and deforestation over the last decades have led to many chemical and physical changes in the climate system, affecting the atmosphere's energy and water balance. A process that could be affected is the Amazonian moisture transport in the South American continent (including La Plata basin), which is crucial to the southeast Brazilian water regime. The focus of our research is on evaluating how local (i.e. Amazon deforestation) and global forcings (increase of atmospheric GHG concentration) may modify this moisture transport under climate change scenarios. We used two coupled land-atmosphere models forced by CMIP6 sea surface temperatures to simulate these processes for two scenarios: i) increase in carbon dioxide (CO2) — RCP8.5 atmospheric levels (00DEF), and ii) total Amazon deforestation simultaneous with atmospheric CO2 levels increased (100DEF). These scenarios were compared with a control simulation, set with a constant CO2 of 388 ppm and present-day Amazon Forest cover. The 30-year Specific Warming Level 2 (SWL2) index evaluated from the simulations is set to be reached 2 years earlier due to Amazon deforestation. A reduction in precipitation was observed in the Amazon basin (−3.1 mm·day−1) as well as in La Plata Basin (−0.5 mm·day−1) due to reductions in the Amazon evapotranspiration (−0.9 mm·day−1) through a stomatal conductance decrease (00DEF) and land cover change (100DEF). In addition, the income moisture transport decreased (22 %) in the northern La Plata basin in both scenarios and model experiments. Our results indicated a worse scenario than previously found in the region. Both Amazon and La Plata hydrological regimes are connected (moisture and energy transport), indicating that a large-scale Amazon deforestation will have additional climate, economic and social implications for South America.

Molecular Detection of Histoplasma capsulatum in Small Wild Mammals, Dogs, and Cats from Areas of Remaining Forest in the Brazilian Amazon

Histoplasma capsulatum is the etiological agent of histoplasmosis, which can infect birds and different mammal species, including humans. In Brazil, the disease is not notifiable, and little is known about its infection in domestic and wild mammals. This study aimed to perform the molecular detection of H. capsulatum in small wild mammals from peri-urban forest remnants and in dogs and cats peri-domiciled in rural communities adjacent to these fragments in the Pará State, Brazilian Amazon. Samples of lung, liver, and skin were collected from free-living rats and marsupials captured in three peri-urban forest patches, as well as blood and skin from dogs and cats. H. capsulatum DNA was detected by nested PCR amplification, with products sequenced and subjected to phylogenetic analysis. H. capsulatum DNA was detected in 9.5% (12/126) of small wild mammals, with rats having a higher frequency of positive animals (25.6%; 10/39) when compared to marsupials (2.3%; 2/87) ( p = 0.0001 ). The frequencies of positive dogs and cats were 1.6% (2/121) and 5.5% (1/18), respectively. A higher frequency of infection by H. capsulatum was observed among small wild mammals when compared to dogs and cats ( p = 0.0143 ). In conclusion, H. capsulatum infection occurs in rats, marsupials, dogs, and cats in the Brazilian Amazon, with rats being important sentinels of the presence of this fungus in areas of remaining forest.

AMAZONE INDONESIA: UNDERSTANDING HYPERREALITY IN A FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT ARENA

Amazone Indonesia (Amazone) is the largest family entertainment destination in Indonesia, with a large area and a complete selection of games. This article explores how myths about the Amazon forest in Brazil are managed in the form of a modern family playground in a mall, Aeon. This paper examines how Amazone exploits the myth that the Amazon forest was constructed with technology as a family playground with the intended purpose. This study uses Roland Barthes' semiotic method to look at myths that are built through technology and presented in various forms of entertainment vehicles and games in Amazone. By using Baudrillard's theory of hyperreality, this paper tries to critically examine how Amazone uses the myth of the forest to "normalize" nature in the jungle to become an image of an amusement park that is fun, exciting, and entertaining for children. Overall, the results of this study reflect a simulation site that is built from the use of technology in games in amusement parks that can promote colonial ways of knowing that strengthen the distance between humans as subjects and nature as objects that are "excavated" as a playground

Linking multivariate statistical methods and water quality indices to evaluate the natural and anthropogenic geochemical processes controlling the water quality of a tropical watershed.

The improvement of water management requires monitoring techniques that accurately evaluate water quality status and detect the effects of land use changes on water chemistry. This study aimed to evaluate how multivariate statistical methods and water quality indices can be applied together to evaluate the processes controlling water chemical composition and the overall water quality status of a tropical watershed. Thirty-four water samples were collected in the Formoso River basin, located on the border of the Amazon Forest. Water parameters were measured in situ using a multiparameter and in the lab using spectroscopic and volumetric techniques. The water quality dataset was interpreted through principal component analysis, multivariate linear regression, and water quality indices. Statistical methods allowed us to identify the sources and geochemical processes controlling water quality chemistry, which were carbonate dissolution, runoff/erosion, nutrient input due to anthropogenic activities, and redox reactions in flooded zones. They were also used to create linear functions to evaluate the effects of land use changes on the geochemical processes controlling water chemistry. Conversely, the water quality indices provide information about the overall condition of the water. The Weight-Arithmetic Quality Index correctly evaluates water suitability for its multiple uses, according to the Brazilian guidelines. Conversely, the Ontario Water Quality Index is not suitable to evaluate the water quality of tropical rivers, since the usual higher water temperature and the low oxygen contents associated with tropical environments result in biased water quality evaluations by this index.

Teunomyces gombertii f.a., sp. nov., Teunomyces landelliae f.a., sp. nov., Teunomyces ledahaglerae f.a., sp. nov. and Teunomyces paulamoraisiae f.a., sp. nov., four yeast species isolated from mushrooms and drosophilids in a Brazilian Amazonian rainforest biome.

Ten yeast isolates representing four candidate novel species of the genus Teunomyces were obtained from different species of mushrooms and drosophilids collected in an Amazonian Forest biome in Brazil. Sequence analyses of the ITS 5.8S region and the D1/D2 domains of the large subunit rRNA gene showed that four isolates were phylogenetically related to Teunomyces stri, two isolates related to Teunomyces atbi, two isolates related to Teunomyces aglyptinius, and another two isolates related to Teunomyces aglyptinius, Teunomyces barrocoloradensis, Teunomyces gatunensis and Teunomyces stri. The four novel species differ by 3 % or more of sequence divergence in D1/D2 domains from their closest relatives. These species were isolated from basidiocarps of the mushrooms Marasmiellus volvatus, Tricholomopsis aurea, Hydropus sp. and Favolus tenuiculus, or drosophilids feeding on these substrates. The names Teunomyces gombertii f.a., sp. nov. (holotype CBS 16168T; Mycobank MB849065), Teunomyces landelliae f.a., sp. nov. (holotype =CBS 16169T; Mycobank MB 849066), Teunomyces ledahaglerae f.a., sp. nov. (holotype CBS 16170T; Mycobank MB 849067) and Teunomyces paulamoraisiae f.a., sp. nov. (holotype CBS 16120T; Mycobank MB 849068) are proposed for these species.

Modeling the carbon costs of plant phosphorus acquisition in Amazonian forests

Plants growing in low phosphorus (P) soils, such as in the predominant soils of Amazonia, are believed to devote more energy to acquiring P through absorptive root production, symbionts, and root exudates than plants in more fertile soils. Accounting for these energy costs in vegetation models is essential, as underestimating carbon (C) allocation to nutrient acquisition may lead to overestimating plant biomass growth. We developed a quantitative model to test a theoretical framework of C costs of P acquisition across soil P gradients. The model considers four strategies: P foraging via absorptive roots and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and P mining via root exudation of phosphatases and organic acids. We used field observations (i.e., soil data, plant biomass production, and stoichiometry of different organs) from ten sites across Amazonia to calibrate the model and explore different scenarios of (i) experimental soil P addition and (ii) elevated atmospheric CO2 concentrations (eCO2). Our model reproduced expected trends in P-acquisition strategies, with plants increasingly investing in foraging strategies as soil soluble inorganic P (Pi) increases and increasingly investing in mining strategies as total P and less available P forms decrease. Relative investment in P acquisition was within observed ranges. Plants, on average and across all sites, invested the equivalent of 20.5% of their estimated total net primary production (NPP) in P acquisition. On average, plants allocated 15.3% of their NPP to P acquisition in the three most fertile sites, compared to 29.0% in the least fertile sites. C allocation to arbuscular mycorrhizas, phosphatases, and organic acids, which are not commonly measured components of total NPP, was up to 25.8% (16.9% on average) of the total NPP. We highlight the need for quantitative data on plant C allocation to P acquisition from the soil to strengthen further model development and future model projections.

Canopy gaps and associated losses of biomass – combining UAV imagery and field data in a central Amazon forest

Abstract. Understanding mechanisms of tree mortality and the dynamics of associated canopy gaps is relevant for robust estimates of carbon balance in forests. We combined monthly RGB images acquired from an unoccupied aerial vehicle with field surveys to identify gaps in an 18 ha plot installed in an old-growth central Amazon forest. We measured the size and shape of gaps and analyzed their temporal variation and correlation with rainfall over a period of 28 months. We further described associated modes of tree mortality (i.e., snapping, uprooting and standing dead) and branch fall and quantified associated losses of biomass. In total, we detected 32 gaps either in the images or field ranging in area from 9 to 835 m2. Relatively small gaps (&lt; 39 m2) opened by branch fall were the most frequent (11 gaps). Out of 18 gaps for which both field and image data were available, three could not be detected remotely. Gaps observed in the field but not captured on the imagery were relatively small and mainly formed by the fall of branches from live and standing dead trees. Our data show that ∼ 17 % of the tree-mortality and branch-fall events only affected the lower canopy and the understory of the forest and are likely neglected by top-of-the-canopy assessments. Regardless of the detection method, the size distribution was best described by a lognormal function for gaps starting from the smallest detected size (9 and 10 m2 for field and imagery data, respectively), and the Weibull and Power functions for gaps larger than 25 m2. Properly assessing associated confidence intervals requires larger sample sizes. Repeated field measurements reveal that gap area does not differ significantly among modes of tree mortality or branch fall in central Amazon forests, with the last contributing the least to biomass loss. Predicting mechanisms of gap formation based on associated area and biomass loss remains challenging, which highlights the need for larger datasets. The rate of gap area formation was positively correlated with the frequency of extreme rainfall events, which may be related to a higher frequency of storms propagating extreme rain and wind gusts. While remote sensing has proven to be an accurate and precise method for mapping gaps compared to field data (i.e., ground truth), it is important to note that our sample size was relatively small. Therefore, the extrapolation of these results beyond our study region and landscape shall be made cautiously. Apart from improving landscape assessments of carbon balance, regional information on gap dynamics and associated mechanisms of formation are fundamental to address forest responses to altered disturbance regimes resulting from climate change.

Asymmetric response of Amazon forest water and energy fluxes to wet and dry hydrological extremes reveals onset of a local drought-induced tipping point.

Understanding the effects of intensification of Amazon basin hydrological cycling-manifest as increasingly frequent floods and droughts-on water and energy cycles of tropical forests is essential to meeting the challenge of predicting ecosystem responses to climate change, including forest "tipping points". Here, we investigated the impacts of hydrological extremes on forest function using 12+ years of observations (between 2001-2020) of water and energy fluxes from eddy covariance, along with associated ecological dynamics from biometry, at the Tapajós National Forest. Measurements encompass the strong 2015-2016 El Niño drought and La Niña 2008-2009 wet events. We found that the forest responded strongly to El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO): Drought reduced water availability for evapotranspiration (ET) leading to large increases in sensible heat fluxes (H). Partitioning ET by an approach that assumes transpiration (T) is proportional to photosynthesis, we found that water stress-induced reductions in canopy conductance (Gs ) drove T declines partly compensated by higher evaporation (E). By contrast, the abnormally wet La Niña period gave higher T and lower E, with little change in seasonal ET. Both El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events resulted in changes in forest structure, manifested as lower wet-season leaf area index. However, only during El Niño 2015-2016, we observed a breakdown in the strong meteorological control of transpiration fluxes (via energy availability and atmospheric demand) because of slowing vegetation functions (via shutdown of Gs and significant leaf shedding). Drought-reduced T and Gs , higher H and E, amplified by feedbacks with higher temperatures and vapor pressure deficits, signaled that forest function had crossed a threshold, from which it recovered slowly, with delay, post-drought. Identifying such tipping point onsets (beyond which future irreversible processes may occur) at local scale is crucial for predicting basin-scale threshold-crossing changes in forest energy and water cycling, leading to slow-down in forest function, potentially resulting in Amazon forests shifting into alternate degraded states.

Açaí palm intensification reorganizes woody plant assemblages at multiple spatial scales in an Amazonian estuarine forest

AbstractThe exploitation of nontimber forest products has been proposed as a sustainable way to exploit tropical forests, but such an opportunity remains to be examined case‐by‐case. We examine the impact of the intensification of the açaí palm (Euterpe oleracea) management for fruit production via increments in palm clumps/stems density on the woody plant assemblages (adult and regenerating) in an estuarine forest landscape in the eastern Amazon region, Brazil. Across 30 forest stands açaí stem density correlated negatively with stem density and taxonomic diversity considering both adult and regenerating woody plant assemblages, but it posed a positive effect on beta diversity via species turnover. Soil fertility and forest stand accessibility played a complementary role. Moreover, açaí clump density affected the abundance of particular woody plant species, including a set of species declining before the 400‐açaí clump density threshold imposed by current regulation. Accordingly, açaí clump density influenced the taxonomic organization of woody plant assemblages at the landscape spatial level. Finally, it is worth mentioning a group of 105 species, which were recorded across the regenerating assemblages but not in the adult assemblages. Among them, a large number of small‐statured woody plant species typical from the forest understory (i.e., the shade‐tolerant assemblage), such as those from Miconia, Piper, Bactris, Anonna and Geonoma genera. As intensification is still spreading it can be considered a threat to the integrity of the Amazon estuarine forest and thus questions the ecological sustainability through which the current Amazonian “black gold” is now produced.