Composition and spatio-temporal dynamics of aquatic bird community in humid areas of Alto Parana Atlantic Forest

Abstract

The northwestern portion of the Upper Paraná Atlantic Forest ecoregion is one of the most disturbed and fragmented areas in the Atlantic Forest, and little is known about the local avifauna. In this study, we have described the composition and diversity of the aquatic avifauna of this region and analyzed the patterns of similarity with respect to the seasonal as well as spatial distribution. We used the line transect sampling technique in six distinct humid areas (including lentic and lotic water bodies) during the dry and rainy seasons of 2012 and 2013. A total of 52 species of waterfowl were recorded. The species richness of the studied areas was surprisingly distinct; only seven waterfowl species, namely Cairina moschata (Linnaeus, 1758), Tigrisoma lineatum (Boddaert, 1783), Rosthramus sociabilis (Vieillot, 1817), Aramus guarauna (Linnaeus, 1766), Vanellus chilensis (Molina, 1782), Jacana jacana (Linnaeus, 1766), and Arundinicola leucocephala (Linnaeus, 1764), were common to these six studied areas. This indicated that the other bird species that were observed might be habitat selective. Moreover, the analysis of the composition of birds in the two seasons (dry and rainy) combined with their spatial distributions showed significant dissimilarities between the areas with lotic (river and constructed wetland) and lentic (lagoons) characteristics. Nevertheless, despite the small extent and low total richness of the entire study area, it was found to be home to 1/3 of all freshwater aquatic birds documented in the state of São Paulo, with the record of 5 migratory species and 11 new species added to the northwest of the state. The heterogeneity of local aquatic environments, habitat selection combined with seasonality, and the absence of other humid locations in the surroundings can explain the diversity and distribution of these birds in the water bodies of this uninvestigated Atlantic Forest ecoregion.

Spatio-temporal composition of aquatic birds community in Juluapan Lagoon, Colima, Mexican Central Pacific

“…The alpha-diversity composition of waterbird species fluctuated not only due to annual changes in water levels (time), but also to wetland specificities (space), reinforcing habitat selection Neotropical aquatic birds species (Lima et al, 2021;Ronchi-Virgolini et al, 2009). The expanse of soft substrates was low in zone 2 due to the presence of a dense strip of mangrove in its margin.…”

Bird checklist and contributions to conservation of the Atlantic forest-cerrado ecotone in Três Lagoas municipality, Brazil

“…In TLM there is also a high flow of migratory species dependent on aquatic environments, mainly from the Pantanal to the upper Paraná River floodplain (e.g., P. ajaja and R. niger), during the dry season (Nunes et al, 2008;Lima et al, 2022). It is noteworthy that out of the 15 Northern Hemisphere migratory species recorded, six are waterfowls represented by species of the Order Charadriiformes (Pacheco et al, 2021).…”

“…It is noteworthy that out of the 15 Northern Hemisphere migratory species recorded, six are waterfowls represented by species of the Order Charadriiformes (Pacheco et al, 2021). Lima et al (2022) studied aquatic birds in a small area very close to TLM (Castilho municipality and surroundings) and found a high richness of waterfowls (52 species). The authors attributed this richness to the high heterogeneity of local aquatic environments in the upper Paraná River floodplain, the habitat selection combined with seasonality, and the absence of other humid locations in the surroundings.…”

“…The forests in TLM have been impacted by beef cattle production, irregular land occupation, dam construction, and unsustainable use of the native forest, which in turn has led to illegal hunting (SEMAC, 2011;SEMADE, 2015;Lima et al, 2022). As a result, the forest formations (Atlantic Forest and Cerradão) are the most impacted habitats in TLM, which became isolated small patches.…”

Checklist of the birds of Mato Grosso do Sul state, Brazil: diversity and conservation

“…The Semideciduous Atlantic Forest was initially suppressed by the use for beef cattle grazing and is now suppressed by extensive eucalyptus plantations. This deforestation has also occurred because of irregular land occupation, dam construction, and unsustainable use of the native forest; this, in turn, has led to illegal hunting (Lima et al, 2021). Unfortunately, most of the Semideciduous Atlantic Forest is now severely fragmented, and it is not under protection in the Mato Grosso do Sul state, especially in this northwestern portion.…”