Elevational and latitudinal variation of taxonomic and functional parameters in understory bird assemblages of a subtropical mountain forest

GONZÁLEZ BAFFA TRASCI NOELIA VIVIANA; MORALES ADRIANA MARISEL; GOMEZ DANIELA; TALLEI EVER; SCHAAF ALEJANDRO ALBERTO ; RUGGENA ROMÁN; TEJERINA SILVANA YANINA

AUSTRAL ECOLOGY

WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2022

1442-9985

Species distribution ranges and abundance are regulated by different factors that generate variation in the species? composition along environmental gradients. The Subtropical mountain forests are distributed an elevational and latitudinal environmental gradient. This gradient is accompanied by changes in the bird?s richness and abundance. We compared taxonomic and functional diversity for understory bird assemblages to comprehend the variation and assess their behaviour along the elevational and latitudinal environmental gradients in the Austral Yungas forests. We worked in 17 sites from the southern limit of Bolivia to Tucumán province during the wet season for seven consecutive years. We used classic taxonomic analyses and GLM?s to compare the taxonomic and functional diversity bird?s assemblages between the elevational and latitudinal gradients of the Austral Yungas forests. We capture 1,243 individual corresponding to 107 bird species. Piedmont forest, northern and middle sectors showed a significantly higher species richness. Functional Richness (FRic) values were higher in Piedmont forest and north sector. We found a considerable variation in abundance and species richness along elevational and latitudinal gradients. Species richness followed a pattern of decline as elevation and latitude increased, while that the functional indices have behaved in different ways. Austral Yungas forests are an excellent system for elucidating how environmental gradients affect variation in the taxonomic and functional composition of bird assemblages. The functional diversity may reflect the ability of a community to respond to changes in the environment and complement taxonomic diversity analysis.