Traditional ethnomycologycal knowleadge and change process in mapuche-creole communities: A study on wild edible fungi from Patagonian Nothofagus forests, Argentina

Abstract

Practices,perceptions, beliefs and other forms of relationship between rural inhabitantsand fungi in Patagonia are scarcely studied. In this work we analyze therichness, cultural importance and modes of appropriation of wild edible fungiin four Mapuche-creole communities settled in Nothofagus spp. Forests in Patagonia. Through an ethnobiologicalapproach, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 36 informants, visits tothe environment and participant observation. Data were analyzed qualitativelyand quantitatively using non-parametric statistics. The settlers collect 20species in environments with different degrees of anthropic intervention(surrounding houses, pasture fields and forests with high coverage and lowdegree of anthropization). The specimens are consumed fresh "insitu", after some processing, or stored for self-consumption or trade. Thespecies with the greatest cultural importance are Morchella aff. tridentina,M. aff. septimelata, Morchellasp. and Suillus luteus, all with highcommercial value, but not an extensive history of use at regional level. Nextin importance, Cyttaria hariotti, Grifola gargal and Fistulina antarctica are highlyvalued, but current use is sporadic and often associated with the consumptionby children ("marginal" uses). The differential use of edible fungi(marginal / main), the simultaneity and complementarity of supply strategies,the transfer and recreation of old practices in new ones, and technologies wereanalyzed. Fungi studied reflect important features of the Patagonian tradition,but also processes of change in response to complex and dynamic socio-economicand ecological contexts.