<b>Predicting geographic distributions of <i>Phacellodomus</i> species (Aves: Furnariidae) in South America based on ecological niche modeling

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Phacellodomus Reichenbach, 1853, comprises nine species of Furnariids that occur in SouthAmerica in open and generally dry areas. This study estimated the geographic distributions of Phacellodomus species in South America by ecological niche modeling. Applying maximum entropy method, models were produced for eight species based on six climatic variables and 949 occurrence records. Since highest climatic suitability for Phacellodomus species has been estimated in open and dry areas, the Amazon rainforest areas are not very suitable for these species. Annual precipitation and minimum temperature of the coldest month are the variables that most influence the models. Phacellodomus species occurred in 35 ecoregions of South America. Chaco and Uruguayan savannas were the ecoregions with the highest number of species. Despite the overall connection of Phacellodomus species with dry areas, species such as P. ruber, P. rufifrons, P. ferrugineigula and P. erythrophthalmus occurred in wet forests and wetland ecoregions.Keywords: Synallaxinae, climatic variables, ecoregions, maxent.Predição das distribuições geográficas das espécies de Phacellodomus (Aves: Furnariidae) na América do Sul utilizando modelagem de nicho ecológico RESUMO. Phacellodomus Reichenbach, 1853 é composto por nove espécies de furnarídeos que ocorrem na América do Sul em áreas abertas e geralmente secas. Este estudo objetivou estimar as distribuições geográficas das espécies de Phacellodomus utilizando modelagem de nicho ecológico. Os modelos foram desenvolvidos com base em seis variáveis climáticas e 949 registros de ocorrência de oito espécies, utilizando o algoritmo Maxent. Maior adequabilidade climática para as espécies de Phacellodomus foi estimada em áreas abertas e secas. Áreas úmidas na Amazônia não foram muito favoráveis para a ocorrência dessas espécies. A precipitação anual e a temperatura mínima do mês mais frio foram as variáveis que mais influenciaram os modelos. As espécies de Phacellodomus ocorreram em 35 ecorregiões da América do Sul. O Chaco e as savanas do Uruguai foram as ecorregiões com o maior número de espécies. Apesar da ampla ocorrência das espécies Phacellodomus em áreas secas, espécies como P. ruber, P. rufifrons, P. ferrugineigula e P. erythrophthalmus ocorreram em florestas úmidas e ecorregiões alagadas.

Avian SDMs: current state, challenges, and opportunities

“…Examples range from predicting community composition (Vallecillo et al 2016), to identifying biodiversity hotspots (García 2006), and explaining current, historical, and future species richness patterns (Ihlow et al 2012, Levinsky et al 2013, Costa et al 2014). Given our broad ecological and distributional knowledge in ornithology, birds are eminently suitable to address methodological and conceptual challenges in estimating species richness and provide a solid data basis for the development and application of such methods (Sutherland et al 2016).…”

Nesting habitat and density, nest characteristics, home ranges and group sizes of the Rufous-fronted Thornbird (Phacellodomus rufifrons) in Central Brazil

“…The Rufous-fronted Thornbird Phacellodomus rufifrons (Wied-Neuwied, 1821), Furnariidae, is a polytypic Neotropical bird, with six subspecies occurring in four separate regions of South America (del Hoyo et al 2020). It occurs on a variety of habitats, from dry areas to humid forests, but seems to require the presence of at least some trees to build the large thorny nests (Sick 1997;Costa et al 2014Costa et al , 2019del Hoyo et al 2020). In the Cerrado it has strong preference for cerrado sensu stricto and was not recorded in more open habitats in the Distrito Federal (Tubelis and Cavalcanti 2001), whereas in Minas Gerais it defended territories mostly in open fields and close to forest borders (Rodrigues and Rocha 2003).…”