Format: ORAL

Julia G. de Aledo1,2,3, Luis Cayuela3, Laura Matas-Granados1,2, Celina Ben Saadi1, Norma Salinas4,5, Mara de los ngeles La Torre-Cuadros6,7, Manuel J. Maca1,2

1Departamento de Biología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain 2 Centro de Investigación en Biodiversidad y Cambio Global (CIBC-UAM), Madrid, Spain 3Departmento de Biología y Geología, Física y Química Inorgánica, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Madrid, Spain 4Sección Química, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, Lima, Peru 5School of Geography and Environment, University of Oxford, Oxfordshire, UK 6Universidad Científica del Sur, Lima, Peru 7Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina, Lima, Peru

Aim. Biodiversity and cultural idiosyncrasy shapes plant traditional knowledge in the Amazon basin. Yet, the factors that influence how different human groups gather knowledge for a certain purpose are not well understood. We aim to investigate: 1) the relationship between traditional knowledge (culture) and biodiversity and 2) the degree of floristic knowledge convergence among Indigenous communities. Methods. We inventoried 1907 species of woody plants in 115 0.1-ha plots in western Amazonia. The relationship between use diversity and species richness was analyzed per plot with generalized linear models, whereas the relationship between cultural and floristic distance was explored with beta regression models. The Euclidean distances between floristic and cultural distances were compared among Indigenous communities to analyze the degree of knowledge convergence. Results. High plant diversity and heterogeneity of rainforests contribute significantly to the development of traditional knowledge within and between Indigenous communities. In most cases, the differences in knowledge across human groups are mainly due to floristic distances, showing the interrelation of these variables. However, in some cases, floristic distances were higher than cultural distances (36%), i.e. knowledge convergence. In other cases (14%) floristic distances were lower than cultural, implying unique bodies of knowledge between communities. Main conclusions. Biodiversity largely influences versatility of uses and traditional knowledge turnover both at local and regional scales. We highlight the importance of floristic composition in shaping knowledge for each Indigenous community, however different patterns of knowledge convergence among Indigenous communities were found. These findings highlight the importance of considering both cultural and biological factors in understanding Indigenous knowledge networks. Respecting and valuing the distinct bodies of knowledge requires an understanding of these factors and a commitment to supporting their autonomy and self-determination in preserving and transmitting knowledge systems.