The birds of Fazenda Brejão: a conservation priority area of Cerrado in northwestern Minas Gerais, Brazil

Abstract

The Cerrado is now considered the most threatened biome of South America. Northwestern Minas Gerais state, in southeastern Brazil, still harbors large areas of extreme importance for biological conservation of the Cerrado. The current study provides the first thorough assessment of the avifauna of a large remnant of Cerrado vegetation in this region, the Fazenda Brejão. Data are based on a bird survey conducted from November 1998 to January 2007. This area is a private property of 20.000 ha preserved that lies in a region recognized for its palm groves, a pristine Cerrado (savannah-like vegetation) and gallery forests. Bird censuses were carried out through random transects censuses, mist-net captures and recording bird vocalizations. It was recorded 273 species, belonging to 56 families. This represents 32% of all 857 bird species recorded for the Cerrado. Palm groves held approximately 42% of all recorded species. We also recorded endemic species of Cerrado as well as adjacent biomes such as the Atlantic Forest and the Caatinga. Regional threatened species were also recorded such as the Greater Rhea Rhea americana, the Chestnut-bellied Guan Penelope ochrogaster, the Bare-faced Curassow Crax fasciolata, the Black-and-white Hawk-eagle Spizastur melanoleucus, the Blue-and-yellow Macaw Ara ararauna, the Yellow-faced Parrot Alipiopsitta xanthops and the Minas Gerais Tyrannulet Phylloscartes roquettei. This species diversity reveals the biological importance of the region. The establishment of a natural reserve in the region will be an essential measure to guarantee the biological conservation of one of the best preserved areas of Cerrado to date in southeastern Brazil.

Strategies of plant establishment of two Cerrado species: Byrsonima basiloba Juss. (Malpighiaceae) and Eugenia dysenterica Mart. ex DC (Myrtaceae)

“…Therefore, the presence of the endocarp is an important hindrance to the germination of this species in nature. Byrsonima basiloba is dependent on dispersers, such as Rhea Americana (Faria et al . 2009), and there is no direct association with specific environmental stimuli.…”

Espécies de aves não nativas no Brasil

“…Subsequent records were obtained from the island by Oren in 1984, and also between1987 and 1991(Nacinovic and Teixeira, 1989Oren, 1984;Silva, 2008;Soto et al, 2000). It has been recorded from the savanna area in the northern state of Minas Gerais as a probable escape of captive birds (Faria et al, 2009). Mallet- Rodrigues et al (2008) record it as escaped or released from captivity in the city of Rio de Janeiro, while escapes of pairs were reported by Sick (1997) in Niterói, Santa Cruz and Enxadas Islands.…”

The impacts of domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) on wildlife in two Brazilian hotspots and implications for conservation

“…Overall, the matrices (surroundings) of the forest fragments in the study area are composed mainly of pasture and crop plantations. Although these forest remnants are small and severely threatened by human activities, they are still relevant to the conservation of biodiversity because they harbor many endemic and endangered species (Faria et al, 2009;Moraes et al, 2015;Guedes et al, 2017;Laurindo et al, 2019).…”