The Amazonas region in Colombia is political conformed by 6 departments with a total area of 40,494,267 Ha, and a population of approximately 1,000,000 inhabitants. This region represents nearly10% of the Amazon basin, covering 43% of the Colombian territory, and has 80% of the area within the tropical humid forests (Bht). Its annual precipitation ranges between 2500 and 4000 cubic millimeters per year, with a 30˚C average temperature and a relative humidity that rises up to 80%. Along the year laps there are two periods of rain, an intense one in the months of January and February and one of less intensity during September and December [18] [21] [22] .

The Amazonian trapeze is located within the Amazonas department (Colombia), it borders on the north with the Putumayo River, on the south by the Amazon River. To the east on the border line with Brazil from Tarapacá to Leticia, and to the West on the borderline with Peru from the Yaguas river in the Putumayo to the Atacuari River in the Amazon. In this area are located the Putumayo River with its main tributary, the Cotuhé, and the Amazon river with its tributaries Uassú, Atacuari, Loretoyacu and Amacayacu. The Amazon trapeze comprises the Municipalities of Leticia and Puerto Nariño. In terms of the native population, there are the indigenous communities of Tikuna, Cocama, Yagua, Uitoto, Muinane, Tanimuca who’s people inhabit in several Resguardos [19] [21] .

The Tikuna community extends from the Atacuari River between Colombia and Peru up to the Jutaí River in Brazil. In Colombia they occupy the entire Amazon trapeze with a population of 8.000 people. They share a “unique” language, with three dialects and live mainly on the banks of the Amazon River. They practice tomb and burning horticulture (chagras), fishing, hunting and tourism activities for income. Its Resguardos are: San Antonio de los Lagos, San Sebastián, El Vergel, Macedonia, Mocagua, San Martin de Amacayacu and Cothué-Putumayo, in the Department of Amazonas. More information consult [10] [18] [23] . See the location in Figure 2.

The Uitoto community (the Sons of Tabaco, coca and sweet yucca), live in the Colombo-Peruvian Amazon. The main settlements are located in the Igaraparaná and Carapararana rivers, in the Caquetá River middle courses, and in some Peruvian localities. At the end of the first third of the last century, no more than three thousand Uitotos survived to the ethnic elimination and genocidal action of rubber companies―domestic and foreign-forcing the displacement of many of them to the Amazonas trapeze. At present there are about 6000 Uitotos in Colombia [10] [24] [25] . In the Amazon trapeze, the Uitotos are located in the Kilometro 6 and 11 in the Leticia -Tarapacastreet (RITU), Arara, San Antonio de los Lagos and San Sebastián.

TICOYA Resguardo, has indigenous communities of the Tikuna, Cocama and Yagua tribes, making up a population of 56,201, distributed in 22 communities along the Amazon river and its tributaries the Atacuari, Boyahuasú, Loretoyacu

and Amacayacu [19] [26] . This Resguardo was created as a conservation area by decree No. 021 of March 13, 1990. The San Martin de Amacayacu community is formed mostly of Tikunas (600 people, according to CuracaMamerto Gregorio 2019).

RITU Resguardo or Los Kilometros, was constituted by resolution of INCORA N˚ 005 of 1986 with an extension of 7560 hectares, and is inhabited by more than 1563 indigenous. They are indigenous people who came from other parts of the Amazon, displaced by violence through Colombian history. The families are made up of two predominant ethnic groups, Tikuna and Uitoto⁴ [19] [27] .

The procedure was developed in three stages. 1) Identification and analysis of relevant information about saltlicks and its flora composition and structure, assigning particular value to the information on the Tikuna and Uitoto life plans⁵. 2) Visits and recognition of 11 saltlicks in the years 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019 with the permission and the attendance of a Tikuna family in SMA, and Uitoto indigenous guides in Los Kilometros. See Table 1. The status and forest structure by inventories was made, and the current management of saltlicks were observed. 3) Analysis of biodiversity indicators, statistical analysis and conclusions.

The visit and identification of the 11 saltlicks was carried out with the accompaniment of indigenous knowledgeable locals (see Table 1). Along with them, was calculated the approximate area to establish transects of (4 × 50 m) with a distance between each transect of at least 60 meters, the guides suggestions were accepted for the location of the transects and interior ways to transit into the saltlick, in order to respect the areas of more use of the local animals and the most susceptible areas to human presence as the licking areas. The approximate location of the saltlicks and some images of its forest component are shown in Figures 3-7.

This research procedure was circular and in permanent redesign due to the social, environmental and access conditions to these areas. The method proposed had to be adjusted according to the possibilities of accessibility to such places―the saltlicks, access conditions of the land, permissions granted, available time of the field guides, climatic state, economic conditions for the displacement and payment of guides.

21 transects were recorded along the SMA and 28 transects in the Kilometers see Table 2.

Trees⁶ with diameters at breast height more or equal to 10 cm were characterized; species data (local name) and approximate total height were recorded. See Table 3.

Tree data with their respective identified species were analyzed using the

Diversity, Dominance, Equity and Wealth indices described in [29] , in order to determine the differences between the saltlicks of each Resguardo. The indices used were:

1) Diversity Shanon-Weaver (1949) index

H = − ∑ ​ n i N ∗ ln ( n i N )

H: is Shannon-Weaver’s diversity index; n_i is the number of individuals of each species; N: is the total number of individuals; ln: it is the natural logarithm.

Values between 0 and 1.0 of H indicate slightly biodiverse environments, between 1.0 and 3.0 correspond to moderately biodiverse environments and, of 3.0 or onwards, environments of good biodiversity [29] .

2) Simpson’s dominance index (1949)

D = ∑ ​ n i ( n i − 1 ) N ( N − 1 )

D: is Simpson’s dominance index; n_i: is the number of individuals of each species; N: is the total number of individuals

The values for this index are between 0 and 1.0. As dominance increases, diversity decreases.

3) Equity index of Pielou (1966)

J = H ln (S)

J: is the equity index of Pielou; H: it’s the Shanon-Weaver diversity index; S: is the number of species; ln: is the natural logarithm

This index is between 0 and 1.0, where the value of 0 represents the minimum equity and 1.0, the maximum equity.

4) Margalef’s richness index (1968)

R = S ln (N)

R: is Margalef’s richness index; S: is the number of species; N: is the total number of individuals; ln: is the natural logarithm.

If the Margalef index is less than 2.0, is low richness in the environment, if it is between 2.0 and 5.0, there is moderate richness, if it is greater than 5.0, there is great richness in the ecosystem [29] .

Using the SPSS statistical program, the data was analyzed in order to recognize if significant differences between the compositions of the saltlicks in both Resguardos existed. In total 756 trees were analyzed in 143 taxonomic units at the level of genre and species (when the tree was fully identified).

The univariate analysis tool with the fixed variable Resguardos and saltlick name, and the area of inventory as a covariate, were used to analyze if the dependent variables such as number, species, family, genre, diameter (DAP) and height stratum (H) have significant relationships between them.

The saltlick is a very special place in the jungle to see animals [30] . Under the perception of Tikuna and Uitoto this places are the doors of the Malokas for the animal’s parties (where the animals transformed into men take Masato and dance). The saltlicks are social spaces for humans and non-humans animal (personal communication Gregorio, Morales and Negedeka families, 2015, 2016, 2017).

Saltlicks are composed of two areas⁸: one area remains most of the time flooded with species of flora adapted to their salt condition; this is where the traces of numerous species of animals are in evidence. The other area corresponds to the forest of the mainland. Each saltlick has a dominant species of animal; the area that corresponds to the perimeter forest for each saltlick can oscillate between 60 and 600 meters from the edge of the water or wet zone. This forest area is delimited for protection purposes by the indigenous community. In both areas extractive activity of vegetation and hunted are not allowed.

For Tikuna and Uitoto the saltlicks are considered prohibited and/or enchanted spaces. Inside them it is prohibited to hunt, collect fruits, eliminate associated flora, cut trees, and change the land use. They must be entered with the permission of their respective owner. Table 4 gives a definition of these spaces along with others considered sacred for both ethnic groups.

In the visits made to the 11 Saltlicks in both Resguardos, more than 120 trees species were identified (see Table 5). It was possible to observe that more number of species and trees exist in Venado and Maloka saltlicks (SMA), and

Kayetano and Kaimo saltlicks (Los Kilometros).

144 species⁹ of trees were identified in six saltlicks in SMA, and 130 species of trees in the five saltlicks of Los Kilómetros. All the saltlicks have more than 60 genres and 21 families.

Graph 1 shows a Family summary (botanic families most frequently identified in the saltlicks visited). The frequent families are Fabaceae, Arecaceae and Lecythidacea.

As a complement to Graph 1, in the saltlicks of SMA, 28 families with 59 genres were identified. The 3 families with more individuals are Arecaceae, Fabaceae and Myristicaceae. In saltlicks of Los Kilometros, 30 families with 67 genres

Graph 1. Botanical families distribution by number of trees in the saltlicks sample. Source: The authors.

were identified. The 3 families with more number of individuals are Arecaceae, Fabaceae and Lecythidaceae.

Table 6 and, Figure 8 and Figure 9, show a summary of the botanical genres in saltlicks that have more than one tree in each saltlick and that are present in four or more saltlicks in each Resguardo. Dominating genre was not found in the inventoried saltlicks.

The Eschweilera genre is common in 90% of all the saltlicks in both Resguardos, representing between 10% and 12% of saltlicks trees. The Astrocaryum, Inga and Iryantheragenres, are common in 80% of the saltlicks in SMA. Astrocaryum is found in different percentages, the highest percentage of these palms is in Huito saltlick with 21%.

The Inga genre and Virolagenre are represented in approximately 10% - 15% of the trees in the saltlicks of SMA. See de following graphics in Figure 8.

In the meantime, Licania and Pouteria genres are frequent in 80% of the saltlicks in Los Kilometros, but they do not represent more than 10% of the trees in these saltlicks (Figure 9).

In both Resguardos, the distribution of the trees according to their diameter, concentrate in the DAP A and DAP B diametric classes¹⁰.

In SMA saltlicks, the trees that are in more proportion in DAP A class, were identified in Patura, Venado, Huito and Maloka saltlicks. In DAP B diametric class Piedra and Aramacia saltlicks. In Los Kilometros, the trees that are more in proportion to the DAP A diametric class, were identified in Pequeño, Johny and Patoha saltlicks, and the diametric class DAP B in Caimo and Kayetano saltlicks. See Graph 2 that illustrates the distribution of the diameters for both Resguardos.

For the distribution of tree heights by strata, they occur in more number between strata H3 and H4 (see Graph 3).

In SMA, the trees heights are concentrated in stratum H3 in all the saltlicks. In Maloka saltlick has a few dominance in stratum H4. In Los Kilometros has concentrate of trees in stratum H3 in Pequeño, Jhony and Kayetano saltlicks. In stratum H4 in Kaimo and Patoha saltlicks.

In the saltlicks samples, the trees do not have big diameters, their heights are concentrated in the middle strata H3 with few trees in the upper strata (H4 and H5). This is explained by the special conditions of humidity and salinity of saltlicks, which are reported by several authors. See too [16] [17] [28] [30] . In the statistical analyzes, the tree diameters and heights did not show significant differences between saltlicks of both resguardos.

The following figures show 3 saltlicks drawings in SMA-TICOYA and 3 saltlicks drawings in Los Kilometros―RITU, with the typical tree distribution in

Graph 2. Saltlick tree diameters distribution for both Resguardos. Left SMA saltlicks, right Los Kilometros saltlicks. Source: the authors.

Graph 3. Saltlicks heights distribution under methodology parameters. Left SMA saltlicks, right Los Kilometros saltlicks. Source: the authors.heights and species composition in a transect (Figures 10-15).

With the SPSS statistical program, an analysis was done to recognize if there exists a significant difference between the compositions of the saltlicks in both resguardos. 756 trees were used in 143 taxonomic units in a level of genera and species (when the tree was fully identified).

The univariate analysis tool was used with the fixed variable: Resguardos and Saltlick Name, and the area of inventory as the covariate, to analyze if the dependent variables: number, species, family, genera, diameter (DAP) and height stratum (H), have significant relationships between them. According to whit the deriving results (see Table 7), there is a tendency of more number of trees, species, genera and families in Los Kilometros but statistically it is not significant.

Figure 16 shows the families distribution by percentage in the saltlicks. It was observed that there are not families that represent more than 50% of the trees in each saltlick, so there are not dominant botanical families in the composition of species in the eleven inventoried saltlicks.

Afterwards, the significance of families in the saltlicks was evaluated of both Resguardos. The analysis allowed to conclude that statistically there are no significant differences in the number of botanical families that have higher number of trees in the saltlicks (see Table 8).

The saltlicks in SMA have more number of trees without any dominant families in Arecaceae, Fabaceae and Myristicaceae. The saltlicks in Los Kilometros have more number of trees without having dominant families in Arecaceae, Fabaceae and Lecythidaceae.

In the case of botanical genres, there are not significant differences between the resguardos.

The values of the indices for the sample saltlicks in both Resguardos are shown in Table 9, where it can be observed that:

Shanon-Weaver Diversity Index: Venado, Maloka and Piedra saltlicks have a high biodiversity, their index is more than 3.0, while in the other saltlicks, the result are near of 3.0, which indicates that this last saltlick environment is still with good biodiversity but not as highly as the first three.

Caimo and Kayetano saltlicks have high biodiversity, their indices are higher

than 3.0, while the other saltlicks are near 3.0, which indicates that the environments in these saltlicks have a high biodiversity.

Simpson dominance index: the sample shows little dominance of species, this is because the values of this index are close to zero. That is good because indicates that in this saltlicks don’t exist dominant species

Pielou Equity Index: In all saltlicks this index is close to 1.0, which indicates that these habitats are equitable for all species.

Margalef’s richness index: The values of this index are more than 5, all these saltlicks have good species richness. The saltlick with a value more than 7 are Venado and Maloka in SMM and Caimo and Kayetano in Los Kilometros.