Chaco Eagle Ecology and Conservation

SARASOLA, J.H.; GALLEGO, D.; MARTINEZ MIRANZO, B.

Imperiled: The Encyclopedia of Conservation

Elsevier

Lugar: Berlín; Año: 2022; p. 102 - 112

Diurnal birds of prey are the predominant apex avian predators for most terrestrial ecosystems. Besides the role they play as top predators on food webs, raptors are also among the most susceptible species to the negative effects of habitat transformations and human perturbations, in part due to their large habitat requirements, low population densities, and turnover rates. All these features make birds of prey especially susceptible to the variety of human pressures on their populations and habitats. As a result, a great number of the recognized raptor species are currently listed as threatened. In the Neotropical realm, which extends from tropical Mexico to South America, one of the rarest, most elusive and severely threatened birds of prey is the Chaco Eagle (Buteogallus coronatus). Here we examine and review information on the biology of Chaco Eagle, highlighting the most important threats to this species in the arid and semiarid landscapes of Argentina. We also examine management and conservation actions undertaken as a result of long-term studies on the ecology of the species, as well as gaps and future research needs with the aim of preserving Chaco eagle populations in natural environments.