Our findings suggest that the chance of encountering Brazil nut stands bearing the marks of past human influences increases from south‐western to central and eastern Amazonia. In south‐western Amazonia, the regeneration of Brazil nut seems to have been controlled predominantly by natural processes, whereas in central and eastern Amazonia, anthropogenic disturbance has been more important since pre‐Columbian times. However, it remains challenging to disentangle human influences on the distribution and abundance of Brazil nut from existing environmental gradients across the Amazon Basin. In general, the results of this meta‐analysis bode well for the future coexistence of Brazil nut with different forms of contemporary human land use.

Authors: Thomas, E.; Alcazar Caicedo, C.; McMichael, C.H.; Corvera, R.; Loo, J.

Subjects: brazil nuts, soil, ecology

Publication type: ISI, Journal Article, Publication

Year: 2015

ISSN: 1365-2699

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jbi.12540