Can exotic tree plantations preserve bird diversity of native woodlands in Buenos Aires, Argentina?

LACORETZ, MARIELA V.; TORRELA, SEBASTIÁN; FERNÁNDEZ, GUSTAVO J

Manaos

Congreso; X Neotropical Ornithological Congress & XXII Congresso Brasileiro de Ornitologia; 2015

CBO

Argentinahas become one of the countries with the highest deforestation rate in recentyears. Over the last century the country has lost 70 percent of its nativeforests, leading to large losses of biodiversity. The talares woodlands (Celtisehrenbergiana) belongs to Espinal ecoregion of Argentina and they are the majornative woodlands of the Buenos Aires province; however, only a few remain. Eventhough the talares face continuous deforestation, little is known about theconsequences of their replacement by exotic woodlands on bird biodiversity. Weconducted bird census at 52 points in native and exotic woodlands (Pinus spp.and Eucalyptus spp.). At each point where a bird census was made, we also determinedstructure and composition of vegetation. Exotic tree plantations showed areduction in bird species richness of at least 50%. Moreover, bird abundanceand diversity in talares was higher than in plantations. Community structurediffered mainly in the identity of the dominant species. Furthermore, vegetationstructure varies between types of woodland, being exotic tree plantationstaller and with different composition of strata. This study shows that exotictree plantations are unsuitable to preserve bird diversity not only becausethese woodlands differ in woody species composition but also in structure. Theresults indicate that a high proportion of bird species, formerly present inthe region, are unable to adapt to the exotic woodland resulting in largelosses of bird species.