Implications of deforestation for the abundance of restricted-range bird species in a Costa Rican cloud-forest

AbstractCentral America is a region of great avian diversity, and the highlands of Costa Rica and Panama are particularly rich in endemic bird species. Continuing deforestation has destroyed large parts of the birds' natural habitats in this region. The ability of birds to use non-forest habitats will ultimately determine their vulnerability to further deforestation, and knowledge of their habitat use is therefore essential in planning conservation strategies. We examined the effects of deforestation on the abundance of restricted-range bird species in the southern Costa Rican part of the Talamanca mountain range. We used line-transect distance sampling to obtain densities in forest and non-forest habitats. Most (22/28) restricted-range species were recorded in forest and non-forest. Of 28 restricted-range species, 13 species showed a clear preference for forest and 8 for non-forest, and total numbers were one-and-a-half times higher as high in forest compared with non-forest. Of the 10 most common species, one was more abundant in non-forest and seven were more abundant in forest. We conclude that forest is the primary habitat for the majority of the restricted-range avifauna, and their dependence on forest makes them particularly vulnerable to deforestation. Adequate protection of the forests in these mountains is therefore the best assurance of the long-term survival of these birds.

Download Full-text

Threatened mammals of the Cordillera de Colán, Peru

Oryx ◽

10.1017/s003060530002127x ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 29 (4) ◽

pp. 275-281 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Stuart H.M. Butchart ◽

Roger Barnes ◽

Charles W.N. Davies ◽

Mirko Fernandez ◽

Nathalie Seddon

Keyword(s):

Protected Area ◽

Bird Species ◽

Mountain Range ◽

Restricted Range ◽

Woolly Monkey ◽

The Future ◽

Northern Peru ◽

Lagothrix Flavicauda

During recent surveys in the Cordillera de Coldn, a semi-isolated mountain range in northern Peru, observations were made and information collected on three species of mammals considered globally threatened with extinction – yellow-tailed woolly monkeyLagothrix flavicauda,Andean night monkeyAotus miconaxand spectacled bearTremarctos ornatus.The yellow-tailed woolly monkey has an extremely restricted range, in which extensive deforestation is occurring, and the species is also heavily hunted. The urgent establishment of an effectively protected area in the Cordillera de Colán is strongly recommended in order to help secure the future for this poorly known primate and other mammal and bird species of conservation importance.

Download Full-text

The need for multidisciplinary conservation: a case study of Ceratozamia (Zamiaceae, Cycadales) in eastern Mexico

Oryx ◽

10.1017/s0030605320000204 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-10

Author(s):

Lilí Martínez-Domínguez ◽

Fernando Nicolalde-Morejón ◽

Dennis Wm. Stevenson ◽

Quiyari J. Santiago-Jiménez ◽

Octavio Rojas-Soto ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Extinction Risk ◽

Action Plan ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Conservation Strategies ◽

Mountain Range ◽

Niche Modelling ◽

Term Survival ◽

Sierra Madre Oriental ◽

Sierra Madre ◽

Conservation And Management

Abstract As an evolutionary lineage cycads are rare, and the extinction risk is high for many species. The genus Ceratozamia, one of the most diverse in Mexico, is experiencing drastic reductions of its habitat. Ceratozamia is widely distributed along the Sierra Madre Oriental, a complex mountain range, in a region characterized by high ecological and cultural diversity. Since 1990, various conservation and management strategies have been applied to this taxon in Mexico but evidence for the effectiveness of these measures is lacking. Ceratozamia in the Mexican Sierra Madre Oriental is highly diverse and endemic, offering a model for analysing geographical distribution patterns with ecological niche modelling. It also presents an opportunity for assessing the success of conservation and management strategies that have been implemented in this area. Here, we examined three aspects that are considered fundamental for the development and evaluation of conservation strategies: (1) taxonomy, (2) ecology and (3) sociocultural anthropology. Our findings suggest a pessimistic outlook for the long-term survival of Ceratozamia species in their natural environment, indicating the need to review the current IUCN Cycad Action Plan for the genus. To improve the protection of Ceratozamia and other taxonomic and/or ecological assemblages, we encourage a multidisciplinary approach, with increased collaboration between natural and social scientists.

Download Full-text

A checklist of bird communities In Tamhini Wildlife Sanctuary, the northern Western Ghats, Maharashtra, India

Journal of Threatened Taxa ◽

10.11609/jott.3377.10.3.11399-11409 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 11399

Author(s):

Dhananjay Chavan Vinayak ◽

Subhash Vitthal Mali

Keyword(s):

Human Activities ◽

Western Ghats ◽

New Records ◽

Bird Species ◽

Bird Communities ◽

Line Transect ◽

Restricted Range ◽

Wildlife Sanctuary ◽

Point Count ◽

Wood Pigeon

Bird communities in Tamhini Wildlife Sanctuary in the northern Western Ghats were studied using line transect and point count methods from the year 2011 to 2013. The updated checklist of birds at the Sanctuary is now represented by 164 bird species. The present study reported 35 new records to the area, while 15 earlier reported bird species were not observed. Overall, 55 insectivorous, 19 omnivorous, 14 granivorous, nine piscivorous, eight frugivorous, eight carnivorous and six nectarivorous species were observed. Out of these, 98 were residents, 17 winter visitors, three vagrant visitors and one was summer migrant. Four restricted range species were recorded from the Sanctuary as Nilgiri Wood Pigeon Columba elphinstonii, Malabar Grey Hornbill Ocyceros griseus, White-bellied Blue Flycatcher Cyornis pallipes and Crimson-backed Sunbird Leptocoma minima. Human activities such as pruning, cutting, grazing, fires, quarrying, trailing and camping were also reported in and around the Sanctuary.

Download Full-text

Densities and habitat preferences of Andean cloud-forest birds in pristine and degraded habitats in north-eastern Ecuador

Bird Conservation International ◽

10.1017/s0959270900002252 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 129-145 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

W. Cresswell ◽

M. Hughes ◽

R. Mellanby ◽

S. Bright ◽

P. Catry ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Habitat Degradation ◽

Cloud Forest ◽

Habitat Preferences ◽

Bird Species ◽

Restricted Range ◽

Forest Species ◽

North Central ◽

The North ◽

North Eastern ◽

Pristine Forest

SummaryThe montane cloud-forests of the north-central Andes and the montane grassland and transitional elfin forest of the central Andean páramo contain a high diversity of bird species including several restricted range and uncommon species. Little is known of how densities of Andean cloud-forest species are affected by habitat degradation. Bird densities within pristine and degraded habitats at the Guandera Biological Reserve, Carchi province, Ecuador were recorded over a 10-week period. Densities were calculated for 48 species; where densities could be compared, 69% of species occurred at a higher density in pristine habitats. Pristine forest had the highest species richness with 72 species and páramo contained 44 species. In total, 26% of pristine forest species were only found in pristine forest, 39% of páramo species only in páramo, 13% of farmland species only in farmland and there were no exclusively secondary scrub species; 47% of species found in pristine forest, and 50% found in páramo were found in both secondary scrub and farmland. Restricted range species recorded at Guandera included the Carunculated Caracara Phalcobenus carunculatus, Black-thighed Puffleg Eriocnemis derbyi, Chestnut-bellied Cotinga Doliornis remseni, Crescent-faced Antpitta Grallaricula lineifrons, Masked Mountain-tanager Buthraupis wetmorei and Black-backed Bush-tanager Urothraupis stolzmanni. Three further species that occurred at Guandera of relatively local occurrence were the Grey-breasted Mountain Toucan Andigena hypoglauca, Golden-breasted Puffleg Eriocnemis mosquera and Mountain Avocetbill Opisthoprora euryptera. Of these nine species at least five used degraded habitats, while three occurred only in pristine treeline habitats.

Download Full-text

STUDI KEANEKARAGAMAN JENIS BURUNG DI KAWASAN HUTAN KOTA DESA KUWIL KABUPATEN MINAHASA UTARA

PHARMACON ◽

10.35799/pha.8.2019.29398 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (3) ◽

pp. 725

Author(s):

Rio P. Saibi ◽

Saroyo Saroyo ◽

Hanny H. Pontororing

Keyword(s):

Species Diversity ◽

Data Collection ◽

Natural Regeneration ◽

Urban Forest ◽

Diversity Index ◽

Survey Methods ◽

Bird Species ◽

Line Transect ◽

Natural Habitats ◽

Line Transects

ABSTRACT Birds are one of the forest's ecosystem components which able to help in the forest's natural regeneration, with one of the bird's natural habitats being urban forests. This study aims to analyze the diversity and describe the bird's species in the Urban Forest habitat of the Kuwil Village of North Minahasa Regency. Data collection used survey methods with plots in form of 2 rectangular line transects with a length of 2000 m each and 20 m wide. Data collection is done 5 times. Based on the research, there were 10 species of birds with a diversity index of bird species as 1.98 which was in the medium category. The species found were Halcyon chloris, Corvus enca, Pycnonotus aurigaster, Oriolus chinensis, Gerygone sulphurea, Galliralus torquatus, Phaenicophaeus calyorhynchus, Eudynamys melanorhyncus, Geopelia striata, and Ducula aenea. Key words: Species Diversity, Urban Forest, Bird ABSTRAK Burung merupakan salah satu komponen ekosistem hutan dengan fungsinya membantu regenerasi hutan secara alami, dengan salah satu habitat alami burung adalah hutan kota. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis keanekaragaman jenis burung pada habitat Hutan Kota Desa Kuwil Kabupaten Minahasa Utara dan mendeskripsikan jenis-jenisnya. Pengambilan data menggunakan metode survei dengan plot berbentuk 2 garis transek (line transect) persegi panjang dengan panjang masing-masing transek 2000 m dan lebar 20 m. Pengambilan data dilakukan sebanyak 5 kali. Berdasarkan penelitian didapatkan 10 jenis burung dengan nilai indeks keanekaragaman jenis burung sebesar 1,98 yang termasuk kategori sedang. Adapun jenis-jenis burung yang ditemukan adalah sebagai berikut Halcyon chloris, Corvus enca, Pycnonotus aurigaster, Oriolus chinensis, Gerygone sulphurea, Galliralus torquatus, Phaenicophaeus calyorhynchus, Eudynamys melanorhyncus, Geopelia striata dan Ducula aenea. Kata kunci: Keanekaragaman Jenis, Hutan Kota, Burung

Download Full-text

The conservation status of birds on the Cordillera de Colán, Peru

Bird Conservation International ◽

10.1017/s0959270900001490 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

pp. 181-195 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

C. W. N. Davies ◽

R. Barnes ◽

S. H. M. Butchart ◽

M. Fernandez ◽

N. Seddon

Keyword(s):

Protected Area ◽

Cloud Forest ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Bird Species ◽

High Rate ◽

Mountain Range ◽

The North ◽

Cash Crops ◽

North Bank ◽

Conservation Of Biodiversity

SummaryIn July and August 1994, we surveyed two areas in the south of the Cordillera de Colán, Amazonas department, Peru, above the north bank of the río Utcubamba. We found a high rate of deforestation, with trees being felled for timber, forest being cleared for the cultivation of cash crops, and elfin forest being burned for pasture. Most of the forest on the mountain range may have been cleared in 10 years. We recorded a number of important bird species, highlighting the significance of the area for the conservation of biodiversity; globally threatened birds included Peruvian Pigeon Columba oenops, Military Macaw Ara militaris and Royal Sunangel Heliangelus regalis. Elfin forest is under particular threat in the area, but probably still holds species such as Long-whiskered Owlet Xenoglaux loweryi. We recommend that a protected area containing areas of cloud-forest and elfin forest be established on the Cordillera de Colán.

Download Full-text

Using Landscape Change Analysis and Stakeholder Perspective to Identify Driving Forces of Human–Wildlife Interactions

Land ◽

10.3390/land10020146 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 146

Author(s):

Mihai Mustățea ◽

Ileana Pătru-Stupariu

Keyword(s):

Landscape Change ◽

Ursus Arctos ◽

Driving Forces ◽

Brown Bear ◽

Mountain Range ◽

Change Analysis ◽

Local Stakeholders ◽

Stakeholder Perspective ◽

Forested Ecosystems ◽

Forest Habitats

Human–wildlife interactions (HWI) were frequent in the post-socialist period in the mountain range of Central European countries where forest habitats suffered transitions into built-up areas. Such is the case of the Upper Prahova Valley from Romania. In our study, we hypothesized that the increasing number of HWI after 1990 could be a potential consequence of woodland loss. The goal of our study was to analyse the effects of landscape changes on HWI. The study consists of the next steps: (i) applying 450 questionnaires to local stakeholders (both citizens and tourists) in order to collect data regarding HWI temporal occurrences and potential triggering factors; (ii) investigating the relation between the two variables through the Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA); (iii) modelling the landscape spatial changes between 1990 and 2018 for identifying areas with forest loss; (iv) overlapping the distribution of both the households affected by HWI and areas with loss of forested ecosystems. The local stakeholders indicate that the problematic species are the brown bear (Ursus arctos), the wild boar (Sus scrofa), the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and the grey wolf (Canis lupus). The number of animal–human interactions recorded an upward trend between 1990 and 2018, and the most significant driving factors were the regulation of hunting practices, the loss of habitats, and artificial feeding. The landscape change analysis reveals that between 1990 and 2018, the forest habitats were replaced by built-up areas primarily on the outskirts of settlements, these areas coinciding with frequent HWI. The results are valid for both forest ecosystems conservation in the region, wildlife management, and human infrastructures durable spatial planning.

Download Full-text

Nest cameras do not affect nest survival in a meadow-nesting shorebird

Bird Conservation International ◽

10.1017/s0959270920000659 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-10

Author(s):

VOLKER SALEWSKI ◽

LUIS SCHMIDT

Keyword(s):

Nest Survival ◽

Bird Species ◽

Conservation Strategies ◽

Survival Models ◽

Northern Germany ◽

Term Study ◽

Long Term Study ◽

Limosa Limosa ◽

Study Sites

Summary Identifying the fate of birds’ nests and the causes of breeding failure is often crucial for the development of conservation strategies for threatened species. However, collecting these data by repeatedly visiting nests might itself contribute to nest failure or bias. To solve this dilemma, automatic cameras have increasingly been used as a time-efficient means for nest monitoring. Here, we consider whether the use of cameras itself may influence hatching success of nests of the Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa at two long-term study sites in northern Germany. Annually between 2013 and 2019, cameras were used to monitor godwit nests. In 2014 and 2019, nests were randomly equipped with cameras or not, and nest survival checked independently of the cameras. Nest-survival models indicated that survival probabilities varied between years, sites and with time of the season, but were unaffected by the presence of cameras. Even though predation is the main cause of hatching failure in our study system, we conclude that predators did not learn to associate cameras with food either when the cameras were initially installed or after they had been used for several years. Cameras were thus an effective and non-deleterious tool to collect data for conservation in this case. As other bird species may react differently to cameras at their nests, and as other sets of predators may differ in their ability to associate cameras with food, the effect of cameras on breeding success should be carefully monitored when they are used in a new study system.

Download Full-text

Predicting the Future Distribution of Ara rubrogenys, an Endemic Endangered Bird Species of the Andes, Taking into Account Trophic Interactions

Diversity ◽

10.3390/d13020094 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (2) ◽

pp. 94

Author(s):

Alain Hambuckers ◽

Simon de Harenne ◽

Eberth Rocha Ledezma ◽

Lilian Zúñiga Zeballos ◽

Louis François

Keyword(s):

Food Resource ◽

Bird Species ◽

Co2 Concentration ◽

Distribution Models ◽

Plant Resources ◽

Term Survival ◽

The Andes ◽

Vegetation Models ◽

Fertilizing Effect ◽

The Impact

Species distribution models (SDMs) are commonly used with climate only to predict animal distribution changes. This approach however neglects the evolution of other components of the niche, like food resource availability. SDMs are also commonly used with plants. This also suffers limitations, notably an inability to capture the fertilizing effect of the rising CO2 concentration strengthening resilience to water stress. Alternatively, process-based dynamic vegetation models (DVMs) respond to CO2 concentration. To test the impact of the plant modelling method to model plant resources of animals, we studied the distribution of a Bolivian macaw, assuming that, under future climate, DVMs produce more conservative results than SDMs. We modelled the bird with an SDM driven by climate. For the plant, we used SDMs or a DVM. Under future climates, the macaw SDM showed increased probabilities of presence over the area of distribution and connected range extensions. For plants, SDMs did not forecast overall response. By contrast, the DVM produced increases of productivity, occupancy and diversity, also towards higher altitudes. The results offered positive perspectives for the macaw, more optimistic with the DVM than with the SDMs, than initially assumed. Nevertheless, major common threats remain, challenging the short-term survival of the macaw.

Download Full-text

Feeding ecology of the wolf (Canis lupus) in a near-natural ecosystem in Mongolia

Mammalian Biology ◽

10.1007/s42991-020-00093-z ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Nina Tiralla ◽

Maika Holzapfel ◽

Hermann Ansorge

Keyword(s):

Feeding Ecology ◽

Prey Species ◽

Roe Deer ◽

Mountain Forest ◽

Forest Steppe ◽

Mountain Range ◽

Natural Ecosystem ◽

Natural Habitats ◽

Siberian Roe Deer ◽

Northern Mongolia

AbstractThe increasing animosity towards wolves (Canislupus) by livestock-keeping nomads in Mongolia and the accompanying conflicts highlight the urgent need for knowledge about the feeding behavior of wolves, since information on the feeding ecology of wolves in Mongolia is rare, especially in the mountain taiga and mountain forest steppe regions of Northern Mongolia. Those regions are characterized by a relatively high wildlife diversity and are sparsely populated by humans. To face this problem, 137 wolf scats were collected in the Khentii Mountain range in Northern Mongolia between 2008 and 2012. Almost all wolf faeces contained remnants of wild ungulates, which made up 89% of the consumed biomass. Siberian roe deer (Capreoluspygargus) was the most important and positively selected prey species. It was followed by red deer (Cervuselaphus) and wild boar (Susscrofa), which was negatively selected by wolves. Wolves also fed on buffer prey species such as lagomorphs and small mammals. No evidence of domestic ungulates was found in the wolf diet. Thus, near-natural habitats with a diverse fauna of wild animals are important to limit livestock depredation.

Download Full-text