The Importance of Considering Bird Detectability for Assessing Biological Integrity

Abstract

We propose an index of bird detectability that can improve the selection of more suitable species to be used for evaluating habitat integrity. Bird surveys were conducted in a conservation unit, the Parque Estadual Mata dos Godoy, southern Brazil. We ranked the bird species according to detectability index, which allowed us to establish two groups: species with low detectability (SLD) and species with high detectability (SHD).We also tested some features that are frequently associated with bird species of high detectability. Sound frequency was the attribute more clearly associated with detectability. We found a negative correlation between sound frequency and detectability, especially within certain groups, i.e. Tyrannidae. In our studied system we recognized Aratinga auricapillus as the best biological indicator among the studied birds, due its high vulnerability and high detectability.

Indicator species for avian biodiversity hotspots: Combination of specialists and generalists is necessary in less natural environments

“…For this reason, the use of surrogates can constitute an efficient and cheaper alternative to assess species richness patterns (Carrascal et al, 2012;Lawton et al, 1998). Despite the distribution of birds is considered a valuable tool in terms of surrogacy, some criticisms were highlighted: (1) some birds are known to be adaptable, and are therefore not good indicators about the first stages of environmental changes (Garson, Aggarwal, & Sarkar, 2002); (2) the spatial scale may have an effect on the performance of bird as surrogates (Bani, Massimino, Bottoni, & Massa, 2006;Garson et al, 2002); (3) some birds are conspicuous than others (Bochio & Anjos, 2012) compromising the capacities as "surrogates"; and (4) the types of environment from which the surrogate is derived can constrain the predictability of the models Padoa-Schioppa et al, 2006).…”

Detection Rate of Bird Species and What It Depends on: Tips for Field Surveys

“…Most importantly, variation in the detectability of each species could strongly affect the correct identification of the number of species in a given assemblage (Bochio and Anjos, 2012). Bird detection probabilities are typically used to assess abundances (Buckland et al, 1993) instead of raw counts of individuals or species occupancy (Norvell et al, 2003).…”

A paisagem antrópica sob avaliação: a avifauna em remanescentes florestais, matrizes agrícolas e as implicações para a conservação

“…Por fim, salienta-se que este é apenas o quarto estudo que testou a aplicação do princípio do IIB com aves para avaliar remanescentes florestais no domínio da Mata Atlântica ANJOS, 2012;MEDEIROS et al, 2015). Por isso encoraja-se que demais estudos continuem testando esta técnica em outras localidades e biomas que estão sob influência antrópica.…”