The taro monoculture of central New Guinea |
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Authors: | George E B Morren Jr David C Hyndman |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Human Ecology, Cook College, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, P.O. Box 231, 08903 New Jersey;(2) Department of Anthropology and Sociology, University of Queensland, St. Lucia 4967, Queensland, Australia |
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Abstract: | An ancient, sustainable, and low risk Colocasiataro monoculture has persisted until modern times among the Mountain Ok peoples of central New Guinea. There is a monoculture-polyculture axis in the region with taro monocultures predominant in the rain forests of the mid-altitude fringe. We argue that when examined from the standpoint of ecosystem simplification, biological variability, and subsistence vulnerability, the taro monocultures exhibit many ecological and systemic properties commonly attributed to polycultures. Monoculture is not an exclusive category; specific cases must be placed in a broader context of the larger ecosystem and the options people have at their disposal. Reduction of the taro monoculture is occurring in response to modernization pressures. |
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Keywords: | New Guinea taro agriculture monoculture subsistence ecology |
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