Camacho Guerreiro Ana Isabel, Ladle Richard J, da Silva Batista Vandick
National Institute of Amazonian Research (INPA), Av. André Araújo, 2.936, Petrópolis. CEP 69.067.375, Manaus, AM, Brazil.
Federal University of Alagoas (UFAL), Institute of Biological and Health Sciences (ICBS), Campus A. C. Simões; Av. Lourival Melo Mota s/n, Tabuleiro dos Martins. CEP 57.072.900, Maceió, AL, Brazil.
J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2016 Oct 26;12(1):50. doi: 10.1186/s13002-016-0123-x.
Climate change is altering climate patterns, mainly increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme events with potentially serious impacts on natural resources and the people that use them. Adapting to such impacts will require the integration of scientific and local (folk) knowledge, especially the first-hand experiences and perceptions of resource users such as fishers. In this study, we identify how commercial riverine fishers in the Amazon remember extreme climatic events (flood and drought) and how they face the consequences of extreme events on fish availability.
Data were collected from the main Manaus fishery harbor between June and October of 2013. Semi-structured questionnaires and a historical timeline technique were used to gather data from artisanal commercial fishers. Fishers' knowledge of extreme climate events was assessed by their "cultural consensus" for identification of event years and perceived impacts. Fishers' responses were also compared to hydrological data to test their similarity.
There was a high level of cultural consensus among fishers about extreme events years. They were able to identify four consecutive unusual droughts, between 2009 and 2012. Elevated levels of fish mortality and decreases in the fishery were perceived as consequences of the drought events, as well as, a reduction in fish size, and disappearance of some species. Extreme flood events were associated with greater difficulties accessing fishing grounds.
Extreme climatic events (floods and droughts) were remembered, and the recent increase in their intensity and frequency was also perceived. Moreover, extreme climate event (mainly droughts) impacts on fishery resources were also observed. Such information is potentially valuable for educational programs to further improve adaptation of local Amazonian fishing communities to future climate change, e.g. increasing local ecological knowledge using learning material based on their perception.
气候变化正在改变气候模式，主要是增加极端事件的频率和强度，这可能对自然资源以及依赖这些资源的人们产生严重影响。适应这些影响需要整合科学知识和当地（民间）知识，特别是像渔民这样的资源使用者的第一手经验和认知。在本研究中，我们确定了亚马逊地区的商业内河渔民如何记忆极端气候事件（洪水和干旱），以及他们如何应对极端事件对鱼类供应造成的后果。
2013年6月至10月期间，在玛瑙斯主要渔业港口收集数据。采用半结构化问卷和历史时间线技术，从个体商业渔民那里收集数据。通过渔民对事件年份的识别和感知影响的“文化共识”，评估他们对极端气候事件的了解。还将渔民的回答与水文数据进行比较，以检验两者的相似性。
渔民对极端事件年份的文化共识程度很高。他们能够识别出2009年至2012年期间连续四年的异常干旱。干旱事件导致鱼类死亡率上升、渔业产量下降，同时鱼的体型变小，一些物种消失。极端洪水事件与进入渔场的难度增加有关。
渔民记住了极端气候事件（洪水和干旱），并且也察觉到它们近期强度和频率的增加。此外，还观察到极端气候事件（主要是干旱）对渔业资源的影响。这些信息对于教育项目可能具有潜在价值，有助于进一步提高亚马逊当地渔业社区对未来气候变化的适应能力，例如利用基于他们认知的学习材料来增加当地的生态知识。
