The relationship of the endangered Yellow Cardinal and bird diversity with a forest treatment at central Argentina

M. EMILIA REBOLLO; MARCOS M. REYES; MIGUEL A. SANTILLÁN; FERNANDO G. LOPEZ; GALMES, MAXIMILIANO A.; DÍAZ PEÑALBA, PABLO; OROZCO PAULA MAITÉN; LUQUE, ISABEL MARÍA; BRAGAGNOLO, LAURA A.; LIÉBANA MARIA SOLEDAD; GRANDE JUAN M.

Congreso; American Ornithological Society & the Society of Canadian Ornithologists Joint Conference; 2023

The Yellow Cardinal (YECA) inhabits South America and it is globally endangered. Their main threats are habitat loss and degradation habitat loss and degradation, along with illegal trapping. We evaluated YECA abundance, cover of plant stratums (herbs, shrubs/saplings and trees) and bird diversity (richness, abundance, dominance) in sites with (treatment) and without (control) a mechanical shrubs/saplings removal as a forest management action to reduce wood encroachment. The study site was in the Espinal ecoregion of La Pampa Province, Argentina. The treatment sites showed lower shrub/sapling cover, due to the management practice correctly done. YECA abundance was higher in treatment sites, and also YECA abundance was negatively related to shrub/sapling cover. However, bird diversity did not differ between treatment and control sites. Our results showed the mechanical wood encroachment removal as a forest treatment modified the habitat and was related positively with the abundance of the YECA in the Espinal. This scientific evidence could provide vital information for future forest management planning to conserve the endangered YECA.