On the possible extinction of bird species in the Upper Paraná River floodplain, Brazil

Abstract

The Upper Paraná River floodplain (UPR) represents the last stretch of the Paraná River in Brazilian territory where a river-floodplain ecosystem still exists. However, the region had been subjected to intense deforestation in previous decades, and more than half of the original floodplain has been lost due to the construction of the Porto Primavera dam, which may have resulted in the local extinction of species. In the present study, we compared the list of bird species recorded before the construction of Porto Primavera dam (1926-1996) to that gotten afterwards (1999-2007) under the Long-Term Ecological Research program (LTER-site 6). We aim to investigate biogeographical and ecological traits of species potentially lost in the UPR. Endemism, proximity to the edge of species' geographic range, low tolerance to human-altered habitats and habitat specificity were associated to the potential extinction of birds in the UPR. The region represents an important opportunity for conservation, and should be target of conservation efforts to avoid further loss of species and ecological processes.

Migratory benthic fishes may induce regime shifts in a tropical floodplain pond

“…Aside from large river channels, the floodplain also contains shallow permanent lakes, temporary lakes, secondary channels and more than 100 islands, as well as sandy and swampy beaches (Mendonça, Lopes & Anjos, 2009). Aside from large river channels, the floodplain also contains shallow permanent lakes, temporary lakes, secondary channels and more than 100 islands, as well as sandy and swampy beaches (Mendonça, Lopes & Anjos, 2009).…”

Aves de paisagem rural na região Centro-oeste do estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil

“…This reduction in vegetation cover has negative consequences for avifauna. Among the most affected are those with a certain degree of endemism, habitat specificity and sensitive species (Mendonça et al, 2009). Because of these changes, there is a decrease in the number of more specialized species, mostly retaining only generalists (Saunders et al, 1991;D'Angelo Neto et al, 1998).…”

Bird community in a forest patch isolated by the urban matrix at the Sinos River basin, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, with comments on the possible local defaunation

“…Brooks et al (1999) predicted that 30-50% of endemic birds from the Atlantic forest may be extinguished in a mid-term future due to deforestation. The work conducted by Mendonça et al (2009) in the state of Paraná showed that endemism, proximity to the geographic limit of distribution, low tolerance to human-altered environments and habitat specificity are characteristics associated to a potential loss of bird species. Similarly, Ribon et al (2003) concluded that endemic species and those with high or medium sensitivity were extinguished or found themselves threatened proportionally more than those not endemic or with low sensitivity.…”

“…Castaño-Villa and Patiño-Zabala (2008) noted the disappearing of 78, 66 and 63% of species in fragments of 41, 129 and 136 ha, respectively, in Colombia. In a recent study at the floodplain of Paraná River, Mendonça et al (2009) showed that 21% of the birds may have been locally extinct. Fontana (2005) indicates that 27 (10.5%) of the 257 bird species recorded for Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul state, have become extinct during the last century or will be in the near future.…”