Species functional traits of useful plants from western Amazonia

Functional traits can help explain why certain plants are consistently chosen for specific purposes across diverse cultural contexts. We conducted fieldwork across nine different Indigenous communities spanning a 1,800 km distance in western Amazonia (Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador). In total, we sampled 115 0,1-ha plots, recording the abundance of 1856 woody plant species. For these species, we collected data on 13 different functional traits: specific leaf area (SLA), leaf area (LA), leaf thickness (LT), wood density (WD), maximum diameter (DBH max), latex presence, resine presence, liana, tree, palm, hemiepiphyte, fruit fleshyness and seed mass. In this database, the functional data are primarily measured in the field, with additional values sourced from TRY and other databases. Note that seed mass and fruit fleshyness are compiled at the genus level. Ethnobotanical data refer to whether or not a species is useful to members of the indigenous communities visited. Interviews were conducted insitu ethnobotanical interviews to 25 Indigenous male participants. Understanding how people interact with plants through their functional traits allows us to understand the ecological bases of plant selection.功能性状（functional traits）可用于解释在多样的文化背景下，为何特定植物会在各类用途中被持续选用。我们在亚马孙西部（玻利维亚、秘鲁与厄瓜多尔）跨度达1800公里的区域内，对9个不同的原住民社区开展了野外调查。本次调查共布设115个0.1公顷样地，记录了1856种木本植物的多度。针对这些物种，我们采集了13项功能性状数据：比叶面积（specific leaf area, SLA）、叶面积（leaf area, LA）、叶厚度（leaf thickness, LT）、木材密度（wood density, WD）、最大胸径（maximum diameter, DBH_max）、乳胶存在性、树脂存在性、藤本习性、乔木习性、棕榈习性、半附生习性、果实肉质性以及种子质量。本数据库的功能性状数据主要通过野外实测获得，另有部分数据取自TRY数据库及其他相关数据库。需注意，种子质量与果实肉质性数据是以属级水平汇编得到的。民族植物学数据用于表征某一植物物种是否对受访原住民社区成员具有实用价值。我们针对25名原住民男性开展了实地民族植物学访谈。厘清人类如何通过功能性状与植物产生互动，有助于我们理解植物被选择利用的生态学基础。