Changes in bird assemblages in an afforestation landscape in the Lower Delta of the Paraná River, Argentina

FRACASSI, NATALIA G.; MAGNANO, ANDREA; QUINTANA, RUBÉN D.; MAGNANO, ANDREA; QUINTANA, RUBÉN D.; NANNI, ANALÍA; NANNI, ANALÍA; FRACASSI, NATALIA G.

EMU

CSIRO PUBLISHING

Lugar: Collingwood; Año: 2019 p. 1 - 9

1448-5540

Global loss of wetlands has increased significantly in recent years. As a result, many wetlands have experienced changes in biotic communities including birds. Here, we compare the temporal variation in bird communities and the effects of land use change on structure and function of avian assemblages in the Lower Delta of the Paraná River (Argentina). Throughout the year, we detected 28 families and 80 species of birds, with the highest richness, diversity and evenness occurring in the spring and summer months because of the arrival of migratory species. Mean bird species diversity, richness and evenness were significantly higher in secondary forests than in active plantations and grasslands for cattle grazing. Bird assemblages were related to structural differences of the habitat types and only generalist forest species were found in active afforestation areas. Secondary forests exhibited species typical of the original riparian forest, practically extinct in the region, highlighting the importance of secondary forest to bird conservation. We speculate that abundance of guilds among habitat types is related to food supply and to plant composition of both woody and grassland environments. Our study shows for the first time how the conversion of wetlands into a Salicaceae plantation impacts on bird communities, in particular on wetland species. This demonstrates the need to implement management strategies to maintain a mosaic including secondary forests and freshwater marshes in order to conserve these species.