Changes in Nothofagus pumilio forest biodiversity during the forest management cycle. 2. Birds

G DEFERRARI; C CAMILION; G MARTÍNEZ PASTUR; P PERI

BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION

Año: 2001 p. 2093 - 2108

0960-3115

Human activities, such as logging, modify the forest structure and the microenvironments of theoriginal Nothofagus forests. The aims of this work were to evaluate changes in the diversity and relativeabundance of birds and to analyze their trophic relationships with insect and plant communities along theNothofagus pumilio forest management cycle. Data was collected using a point sampling method alongtransects located in different forest structures during the summer season, by direct (sight) and indirect(hearing) recognition following sunrise. Bird diversity and abundance significantly varied along the forestmanagement cycle. Seven new species appeared after harvest, but the total number did not vary by theend of the forest management cycle, and there was no significant loss of species. Bird abundance wasdirectly related to the insect abundance and plant biomass. Relationship between groups (lower plants,monocotyledons and dicotyledonous) is also discussed. Major studies in bird ecology are necessary todevelop new silvicultural alternatives based on the more sensitive species to harvest. Forest managementstrategies and mitigation alternatives must be incorporated into forest planning in order to maintain theoriginal structure of bird communities and the equilibrium with other forest species.