Ecology and conservation of grassland birds in southeastern South America: a review

AZPIROZ, A. B.; ISACCH, J. P.; DIAS, R. A. ; DI GIACOMO, A. S.; SUERTEGARAY FONTANA, C.; MORALES PALAREA, C.

JOURNAL OF FIELD ORNITHOLOGY

WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC

Año: 2012 vol. 83 p. 217 - 246

0273-8570

Grasslands of southeastern South America (SESA) are one of the most extensive grassland ecosystems in the Neotropics and have suffered important transformations due the development of a livestock industry, arable agriculture and afforestation. Habitat loss has negatively affected the conservation status of grassland birds in the Neotropics. The SESA grasslands have a rich avifauna that includes 19 globally threatened and near-threatened species; many other birds have suffered local population extinctions and very substantial range reductions. Apart from habitat loss, birds face a series of other threats such as the improper use of agrochemicals, unfavorable fire management regimes, pollution, illegal persecution and overexploitation. Avian research in southern South American grasslands has provided a relatively large body of knowledge about ecological patterns of grassland birds, but there are still many gaps, especially in terms of information directly relevant to conservation. More information is needed on dispersal and migration patterns, genetics, and the mechanisms that influence habitat use patterns, species survival in both natural and agricultural landscapes and there are also many unknowns even in basic biology of many species, to the last mainly in Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay. The restricted network of public protected areas in the region has made a limited contribution to grassland conservation (they protect 1% of original grasslands). Many populations of threatened grassland birds are found in private lands and this has resulted in the promotion of wildlife-friendly agricultural practices. Efforts to preserve habitat features similar to those of native grasslands must reconcile interests of producers and conservationists. Measures that result in significant losses to private owners should be compensated economically while economic incentives for agriculture and afforestation in grassland areas should be discouraged. Grassland bird research has increased substantially in the region. Although much more work is still needed, rapid measures are required in order to improve the conservation status of grassland birds. Hopefully, this review will stimulate additional studies and effective conservation action.