Cambios Socio-ambientales, Alimentación y Sustento en una Comunidad Rural del Manglar

Abstract

Mangrove forests support high levels of biodiversity that form the basis of subsistence and livelihoods in coastal communities worldwide. This paper explores the range of marine products consumed by households in a mangrove-dependent community in Ecuador. In ethnobiological interviews, 48 species of fish, mollusks, and crustaceans were named, of which 85% are harvested directly by the inhabitants and exchangedbetween households. Findings also suggest that changes in consumption patterns in the past 10 years reflect broader socio-environmental trends, such as a decline in available resources, population growth, and conflicts with industrial fishing fleets. A more systematic and detailed analysis is needed to advance understanding about the relationship between subsistence and environmental change.