Abstract
Tropical home-gardens are widely recognized as a repository of biodiversity of domesticated and wild plant, and animal species that need to be developed to meet livelihood needs and for purpose of their conservation. Despite being the oldest form of agroforestry, this system is still poorly studied and understood. This study investigates the pattern of indigenous and exotic flora in the home-gardens managed by urban dwellers in Sao Luis city, Maranhao, Brazil. Forty home-gardens were randomly selected from ten locations and studied for their species richness and diversity, floristic distribution and canopy structure. The species were categorized as exotic and indigenous to Brazil. The homegardens were species-rich, with 186 plant species in total. Of the species recorded, 62% produced edible fruit and nut trees, 17% were food crops, 7.5% were condiments, 7.5% were of medicinal value and 6.4% were timber species. Nearly 60% of all species were indigenous. Differences in species composition determined differences in vertical canopy structure. The floristic composition and high abundance of indigenous and exotic species managed or retained in the home-gardens demonstrates high degree of biodiversity conserved by urban dwellers in Sao Luis.
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Claims 9
Claim · model-written summary
Home gardens contained 186 plant species.
Verbatim
e0“homegardens were species-rich, with 186 plant species in total”
Claim · model-written summary
Edible fruit and nut trees made up 62% of recorded species.
Verbatim
e0“62% produced edible fruit and nut trees”
Claim · model-written summary
Food crops made up 17% of recorded species.
Verbatim
e0“17% were food crops”
Claim · model-written summary
Condiments made up 7.5% of recorded species.
Verbatim
e0“7.5% were condiments”
e1“plant species in total”
Claim · model-written summary
Medicinal plants made up 7.5% of recorded species.
Verbatim
e0“7.5% were of medicinal value”
e1“plant species in total”
Claim · model-written summary
Timber species made up 6.4% of recorded species.
Verbatim
e0“6.4% were timber species”
Claim · model-written summary
Nearly 60% of home-garden species were indigenous.
Verbatim
e0“Nearly 60% of all species were indigenous”
e1“plant species in total”
Claim · model-written summary
Differences in species composition determined vertical canopy structure.
- Taxon
- plant speciese1
- Outcome
- vertical canopy structuree0
- Comparator
- Differences in species compositione0
Not reportedDirection
Verbatim
e0“Differences in species composition determined differences in vertical canopy structure”
e1“plant species in total”
Claim · model-written summary
Home gardens conserved substantial indigenous and exotic species diversity.
Verbatim
e0“floristic composition and high abundance of indigenous and exotic species managed or retained in the home-gardens demonstrates high degree of biodiversity conserved by urban dwellers in Sao Luis”