ETHNOBOTANY OF ATLANTIC FOREST COASTAL COMMUNITIES - DIVERSITY OF PLANT USES IN GAMBOA (ITACURUCA-ISLAND, BRAZIL)

Local plants are a very important resource for the community of Gamboa , located at Itacuruca Island, Sepetiba Bay, State of Rio de Janeiro, BraziL Ninety species of plants, belonging to 40 families, are used fo r a variety of purposes, such as food, construction, handicraft, and m edicine. In a survey medicinal uses for plants were the most quoted by the community. Uses of medicinal plants within Gamboa and with other coastal communities are analyzed using diversity indices. Use by diffe rent categories of people based on sex, age, and economic activity was compared and significant differences were found among the groups comp ared, except for economic categories (fishermen and non-fishermen). Th e theory of island biogeography is shown to be useful for analyzing di fferent levels of resource uses on different islands.