Responses of birds to planting of Lotus tenuis pasture in the Flooding Pampas, Argentina

AGRA, MANUEL; BILENCA, DAVID; CODESIDO, MARIANO

EMU

CSIRO PUBLISHING

Lugar: Collingwood; Año: 2015 vol. 115 p. 270 - 276

0158-4197

The Flooding Pampas is the most important livestock region of Argentina, where the replacement of tussock perennial grasses for pastures is changing the system´s heterogeneity. We evaluated how grassland bird assemblages respond to Lotus tenuis (Lotus) implantation in the Flooding Pampas. Species richness and bird abundances were compared between Lotus implanted fields and semi-natural grasslands (Grassland). Lotus implantation modifies vegetation structure by reducing vertical heterogeneity. Species richness and bird abundance were both greater in Grassland. When grouped by their nesting habits, Grassland birds had greater species richness and abundance in Grassland, whereas Generalist birds had greater richness and abundance in Lotus. An indicator-species analysis revealed that five Grassland birds were closely related to Grassland, in particular two species with conservation concern, Hudson`s Canastero Asthenes hudsoni and Bay-capped Wren-Spinetail Spartonoica maluroides. On the other hand, Generalist species like Southern Lapwing Vanellus chilensis and Burrowing Owl Athene cunicularia were associated to Lotus. Lotus implantation has negative implications on species which are related to tussock grasses. Grassland management techniques such as intercropping and rotational grazing could help conciliate livestock production with grassland bird conservation in the Flooding Pampas.