Forest fragmentation negatively affects common bird species in subtropical fragmented forests

VERGA, ERNESTO G.; SÁNCHEZ HÜMÖLLER, HILDA L.; PELUC, SUSANA I.; GALETTO, LEONARDO

EMU

CSIRO PUBLISHING

Lugar: Collingwood; Año: 2017 vol. 117 p. 359 - 369

0158-4197

Forest fragmentation threatens bird species throughout the world. Previous studies suggest thatthe sensitivity of bird species to forest fragmentation is related to food abundance, and that thiscould be a key factor in understanding demographic changes. We assessed the relationshipbetween forest fragment size, isolation and food abundance and the abundance of sevencommon species of birds in southern Chaco forests of Argentina, which use different fooditems, and are involved in different ecosystem processes. The relative abundance of Turdusamaurochalinus (Creamy-bellied Thrush) and Saltator aurantiirostris (Golden-billed Saltator) significantlydecreased with patch size reduction, whereas the relative abundance of Taraba major(Great Antshrike) decreased with patch isolation and increased with arthropod abundance.Chlorostilbon lucidus (Glittering-bellied Emerald), Elaenia parvirostris (Small-billed Elaenia),Polioptila dumicola (Masked Gnatcatcher) and Zonotrichia capensis (Rufous-collared Sparrow)appeared to be resilient to forest fragmentation. Body size was a good predictor of birdsensitivity, as only the largest species were negatively correlated with forest fragmentation.Previous work suggests that birds inhabiting Chaco forests may be resilient to forest fragmentation.This needs to be reconsidered in the light of our results since the abundance of three out ofseven common bird species was negatively related to forest fragmentation.