Abundance and diversity of birds in environments with different degrees of human disturbance in the Argentine Monte

作者：Fava Gustavo A^*; Acosta Juan C

来源：Ornitologia Neotropical, 2016, 27: 307-316.

• Abundance
• Argentina
• Desert
• Habitat degradation
• Monte ecoregion
• Seasonal variation
• Trophic guilds
• Wind velocity

Anthropic ecosystem modifications usually have considerable impact on the resident fauna. Ecological studies have recognized birds as good indicators of these changes; nevertheless, little research has been conducted regarding the consequences of disturbance specifically on arid and semi-arid environments of South America. This study analyzes how various parameters, including differing degrees of anthropic modification, seasonal variation, and wind velocity, affect richness and abundance of bird species as well as trophic guilds in the Monte ecoregion of San Juan, Argentina. We recorded 41 bird species during our surveys, belonging to 22 families. The most human-modified environments had the highest levels of richness and abundance. Bird abundance was highest in spring, while richness did not vary significantly with season. The granivorous guild was the most abundant and, together with the ground-foraging insectivores and granivorous-insectivores, represented the majority of the species (58,5%). Aerial-feeding insectivores and nectarivores were more common in mountain ravines while ground-foraging insectivorous species were mainly found in human-modified areas. In all cases, higher wind speed correlated with reduced bird abundance. Even though bird richness and abundance were highest in modified environments, these habitats harbored bird communities that differed substantially from surrounding natural environments, and with dominance of introduced species (Columbia livia, Passer domesticus).

• 出版日期2016