Use and plant species native availability in semiarid of Northeast Brazil: an analysis of the ecological appearea

Abstract

Ecological Appearance Hypothesis (EAH) is an attempt to understand and represent the relationships between native plant uses by traditional communities and the distribution of these plants found near the places where people live or work. In semi-arid regions of Brazil, mainly in the Northeast of the country, the record of the use of native plants is consolidated in the scientific literature and traditional knowledge. This study aimed to test the HEA in a rural community in the municipality of Cabaceiras, state of Paraíba, Brazil. HEA was tested from correlations between the ethnobotanical inventory and phytosociological analysis. Comparing the phytosociological parameters and usage categories analyzed, we obtained positive correlations in categories Construction, Animal feed and Medicinal. The positive correlations to the local community studied indicate corroboration of HEA, however further studies in Caatinga and other ecosystems are needed to better understand HEA and its applications.