Edible wild plant use in a Mapuche community of northwestern Patagonia

LADIO ANA; LOZADA M

HUMAN ECOLOGY

Plenun

Lugar: New York; Año: 2000 vol. 28 p. 53 - 71

0300-7839

Mapuche Indians have a long tradition in the use of edible wild resources. The people of Rams (Neuquén, Argentina) consider themselves descendants of the Pehuenches, an Indian group which  once inhabited the “Pehuén” forest region. At present, they live in the steppe, far away from the forest. Our primary interest has concentrated on how this community uses edible resources and to analyze which plants are still utilized. We have conducted an ethnobotanical study which consisted in interviewing several Mapuche families and collecting plants with their help. Ecological variables of plant use, such as search cost, handling time, and nutritional content, were analyzed through some predictions proposed by the Optimal Foraging perspective. Our results indicate that the Rams inhabitants have a thorough understanding of their environment, expressed in a selective gathering of wild resources. Cost and benefit trade-offs seem to be considered when edible plants are collected.