scholarly journals Impact of Fires on Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) and Priority Bird Species for Conservation in Bolivia

Fire ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 4
Author(s):  
Oswaldo Maillard ◽  
Sebastian K. Herzog ◽  
Rodrigo W. Soria-Auza ◽  
Roberto Vides-Almonacid

Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) are sites that contribute significantly to the protection of the planet’s biodiversity. In this study, we evaluated the annual burned areas and the intensity of the fires that affected Bolivia and its 58 KBAs (23.3 million ha) over the last 20 years (2001–2020). In particular, we analyzed the impact of wildfires on the distribution of Bolivian birds at the levels of overall species richness, endemic species and threatened species (Critically Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable). We found that at the KBA level, the cumulative area of wildfires was 21.6 million ha, while the absolute area impacted was 5.6 million ha. The KBAs most affected by the wildfires are located in the departments of Beni and Santa Cruz; mainly in the KBAs Área Natural de Manejo Integrado San Matías, Oeste del río Mamoré, Este del río Mamoré, Noel Kempff Mercado and Área Natural de Manejo Integrado Otuquis. The wildfires impacted the distribution of 54 threatened species and 15 endemic species in the KBAs. Based on the results of this study, it is a priority to communicate to Bolivian government authorities the importance of KBAs as a strategy for the conservation of the country’s biodiversity and the threats resulting from anthropogenic fires.

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ravi Jambhekar ◽  
Kulbhushansingh Suryawanshi ◽  
Harini Nagendra

Abstract Urbanization is one of the major causes of biodiversity loss worldwide. Some species are able to adapt to urbanization, whereas others perish. Studies on long-term effects of the impact of urbanization on species diversity and abundance patterns are especially lacking from tropical cities. We seek to assess the relationship between urbanization and species richness of lake-dependent birds in Bangalore, a tropical mega-city in Southern India. We specifically ask: (i) How is bird species richness related to the size of the lake? (ii) How is bird species richness in Bangalore’s lakes related to the degree of urbanization? We used data from 2014 to 2019, collected from eBird—an online database that collates information on bird observations globally. Both lake area and distance from the city centre are correlated to species richness, with larger lakes supporting more bird species. As distance from the city centre increased (i.e. urbanization decreases), bird richness increased. Overall, in the city of Bangalore, migratory birds have declined while many lake-dependent resident birds seem to be increasing over the past 5 years. We hypothesize that birds that roost and nest in trees appear to be increasing. To confirm this, further research taking a trait-based approach is required. Urbanization appears to have species-specific impacts on lake-dependent birds in this tropical city, with certain groups of birds faring better than others. This research adds to the significant paucity of studies of the impact of urbanization on biodiversity in the urban tropics.


2001 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jon Riley

The island of Sangihe, Indonesia, was visited in 1998–99 with the aim of producing population estimates of the island's endemic and other restricted-range bird species, some of which were poorly known and thought to be at risk of extinction due to habitat change. The study focused on the last remaining patch of primary forest, on Mount Sahendaruman in southern Sangihe, home to three critically endangered endemic species: Cerulean Paradise-flycatcher Eutrichomyias rowleyi, Sangihe Shrike-thrush Colluricincla sanghirensis, and Sangihe White-eye Zosterops nehrkorni. Population densities were estimated from primary forest and secondary habitats across Sangihe to assess species dependency on primary habitat. Twenty of 24 restricted-range, globally threatened or endemic taxa were recorded and density estimates were calculated for 15 of these. The endemic Red-and-blue Lory Eos histrio is extinct on Sangihe as a result of lowland forest loss. Six species (Nicobar Pigeon Caloenas nicobarica, Sulawesi Dwarf Kingfisher Ceyx fallax, Golden Bulbul Ixos affinis, E. rowleyi, C. sanghirensis, and Z. nehrkorni) were either not recorded or have very small populations and are critically endangered on Sangihe; two species of Tanygnathus parrot are also facing local extinction on the island. The major threat to all these species is the destruction of primary forest; larger species are also threatened by hunting. The remaining endemic and restricted-range species (Blue-tailed Imperial Pigeon Ducula concinna, Sangihe Hanging-parrot Loriculus catamene, Sangihe Scops-owl Otus collari, Lilac-cheeked Kingfisher Cittura cyanotis and Elegant Sunbird Aethopyga duyvenbodei) were more widespread and occurred in secondary habitats. I recommend that L. catamene and A. duyvenbodei, currently treated as globally endangered, be reclassified as near-threatened and vulnerable respectively because of their large populations and tolerance of disturbed habitats. Species with wide global ranges that are represented by endemic subspecies have the greatest tolerance for disturbed habitat. The widespread deforestation of Sangihe has had serious consequences for many bird species and today the island supports the most threatened assemblage of single-island endemic species in Indonesia. Species-specific research to determine the status and ecology of E. rowleyi, C. sanghirensis and Z. nehrkorni, and monitoring of the Sahendaruman forest are desperately needed as a basis for future conservation efforts.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Tilker ◽  
Jesse F. Abrams ◽  
An Nguyen ◽  
Lisa Hörig ◽  
Jan Axtner ◽  
...  

AimUnsustainable hunting is leading to widespread defaunation across the tropics. To mitigate against this threat with limited conservation resources, stakeholders must make decisions on where to focus anti-poaching activities. Identifying priority areas in a robust way allows decision-makers to target areas of conservation importance, therefore maximizing the impact of conservation interventions.LocationAnnamite mountains, Vietnam and Laos.MethodsWe conducted systematic landscape-scale surveys across five study sites (four protected areas, one unprotected area) using camera-trapping and leech-derived environmental DNA. We analyzed detections within a Bayesian multi-species occupancy framework to evaluate species responses to environmental and anthropogenic influences. Species responses were then used to predict occurrence to unsampled regions. We used predicted species richness maps and occurrence of endemic species to identify areas of conservation importance for targeted conservation interventions.ResultsAnalyses showed that habitat-based covariates were uninformative. Our final model therefore incorporated three anthropogenic covariates as well as elevation, which reflects both ecological and anthropogenic factors. Conservation-priority species tended to found in areas that are more remote now or have been less accessible in the past, and at higher elevations. Predicted species richness was low and broadly similar across the sites, but slightly higher in the more remote site. Occupancy of the three endemic species showed a similar trend.Main conclusionIdentifying spatial patterns of biodiversity in heavily-defaunated landscapes may require novel methodological and analytical approaches. Our results indicate to build robust prediction maps it is beneficial to sample over large spatial scales, use multiple detection methods to increase detections for rare species, include anthropogenic covariates that capture different aspects of hunting pressure, and analyze data within a Bayesian multi-species framework. Our models further suggest that more remote areas should be prioritized for anti-poaching efforts to prevent the loss of rare and endemic species.


2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 143-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jham Bahadur Thapa ◽  
Tej Bahadur Saund

Water quality parameters were analyzed seasonally to examine relationships with bird numbers and species richness in Jagdishpur reservoir. This wetland is a Ramsar site and an important bird area (IBA) of Nepal. The trophic status of the reservoir was categorized as eutrophic as assessed by Secchi disk transparency (1.45 ± 0.53 m), total alkalinity (220.94 ± 85.52 mg/l) and total nitrogen (884.19 ± 291.61 ?g/l) concentrations. Direct count method detected a total of 77 bird species belonging to 8 orders and 31 families of which 40 species were resident and 37 migrants. Species richness ranged from 21(summer) to 74 species (winter). Secchi disk transparency showed a significant positive correlation with bird numbers ((r = 1.00, p < 0.01) whereas significant negative correlation was found between water temperature and species richness (r = - 0.97, p < 0.05). Absolute positive correlation between species richness and seasons was established (r = 0.74). The seasonal distribution pattern showed two peaks of species richness, Shannon diversity, equitability and evenness index, one in winter and the other in autumn. Fulica atra (30.53%), Dendrocygna javanica (15.88%) and Anas strepera (9.58%) were the three most dominant bird species. Fourteen CITES species, 8 globally and 14 nationally threatened species were recorded. Conservation action plan for threatened species that focuses on population monitoring, protecting key habitats and habitat enhancement is urgently needed. Nepal Journal of Science and Technology Vol. 13, No. 1 (2012) 143-155 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/njst.v13i1.7453


2006 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graham R. Fulton ◽  
Jonathan D. Majer

The decline of woodland birds that follows from habitat fragmentation, degradation and loss of connectivity is well reported in the literature. However, reports of immediate responses by birds to these events are scant. This study, in the eastern whealtbelt of Western Australia, detected that when half of a 10 ha remnant of Allocasuarina shrubland was chained (vegetation knocked over and largely killed), birds responded quickly; increaser species apparently benefited and decliner species became restricted to the remaining unchained remnant of shrubland. There was some correspondence between the trends in variety and/or abundance of arthropods with those of bird species richness. Two Near-threatened species, the White-browed Babbler Pomatostomus supercilious and the Crested Bellbird Oreoica gutturalis, were only detected in the non-chained part of the remnant. These findings clearly highlight the immediate ecological consequences of clearing of native vegetation, and highlight the importance of conserving even the smallest remaining fragments.


2003 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 321 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian Abbott ◽  
Amanda Mellican ◽  
Michael D. Craig ◽  
Matthew Williams ◽  
Graeme Liddelow ◽  
...  

In 1985 new silvicultural prescriptions for managing jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata) forest in south-west Western Australia came into operation. The most extreme logging treatment (gap release) involved removal of most of the overstorey from patches no larger than 10 ha, followed by a regeneration fire. In the other logging treatment (shelterwood), less wood was removed from a larger area, also followed by a fire. This study examined the impact of these disturbances on the avifauna by monitoring species richness and abundance of birds one year before logging, one year before burning, and for five years after burning. Although 68 bird species were recorded during the seven years of the study, 29 of these were detected fewer than 15 times. Of the other 39 bird species recorded, only two (Gerygone fusca and Acanthiza apicalis) showed a statistically significant treatment effect over time on their abundance. The abundance of G. fusca initially declined in the disturbed treatments and by Year 7 of the study (5 years post-fire) in the gap-release treatment had not recovered its original abundance. A. apicalis increased its abundance in both shelterwood and gap-release treatments. By Year 7, both species in the logged treatments had abundances similar to those in the unlogged treatments. Total abundance of all species varied little across treatments. Species richness was highest by Year 7 in the shelterwood and lowest in the gap-release treatment. In some years community structure varied more at the external-reference sites (not recently logged or burnt) than at the gap-release sites. In particular, there was little overlap in community structure in the external-reference treatment between the first and final years, whereas the pre-logging and final year in the gap-release treatment showed a high degree of overlap. These differences are suggestive of overriding short-term annual variation in broad-scale factors rather than local factors. Yearly variation in rainfall and temperature was documented; during low rainfall periods, populations of foliage arthropods may have been reduced.


2008 ◽  
Vol 2008 ◽  
pp. 1-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyle Barrett ◽  
Christina M. Romagosa ◽  
Matthew I. Williams

Urban areas are expanding globally, and the impact of high human population density (HHPD) on bird species richness remains unresolved. Studies primarily focus on species richness along an urban-to-rural gradient; however, some studies have analyzed larger-scale patterns and found results that contrast with those obtained at smaller scales. To move the discussion beyond static species richness patterns, we analyzed the effect of HHPD on bird assemblage dynamics (year-to-year extinction probability, turnover, changes in species richness) across the United States over a 25-year period. We found that bird assemblages in both high and low human population density areas changed significantly over the period of record. Specifically, bird assemblages increased in species richness on average. Assemblage change in areas of HHPD was not significantly different from assemblage change in areas with LHPD. These results suggest that human population density alone does not alter the persistence of avian assemblage patterns.


1995 ◽  
Vol 73 (12) ◽  
pp. 2231-2237 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas F. G. Folkard ◽  
James N. M. Smith

Boreal plant communities are strongly nutrient limited, and the animals of the boreal forest may therefore experience bottom-up nutrient limitation. We conducted a 5-year experimental study of the impact of aerial nitrogen fertilization on birds of the boreal forest near Kluane Lake, southwestern Yukon, to test for such bottom-up effects. Specifically, we tested if avian abundance and species richness increased after fertilization. Variable circular-plot point counts were made to estimate bird numbers and species richness each summer from 1988 to 1992. Fertilization had no effect on abundance for the first two summers, but total abundances of the seven commonest passerine bird species increased by an average of 46% over the final 3 years. Fertilization had no effect on bird species richness. Population densities and species richness were both low at Kluane compared with patterns seen in temperate forest. Yellow-rumped warblers (Dendroica coronata), dark-eyed juncos (Junco hyemalis), and Swainson's thrushes (Catharus ustulatus) dominated the passerine community at Kluane. There was only moderate spatial and temporal variation in songbird numbers on control plots over the 5-year study period.


Tecnociencia ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 332-338
Author(s):  
Jorge L. Garzon

Here we present the first description of nests for the Varied Solitaire Myadestes coloratus, a regional endemic species (Panama and Colombia). We found two nests in Cerro Chucantí Natural Private Reserve (CCNPR), the first nest was seen on May 6, 2019 with three hatchlings inside and the second on May 9, 2020 with three eggs. The nests were constructed out of green mosses and foliaceus liverworts over tree trunks covered with moss, they were cup shaped, at 1.3 and 1.5 meters high. The GPS coordinates of the nests were (8° 47’44.8” N, 78°27’47.4 W, 1276 m) and (8° 48’09.5” N, 78°27’37.0 W, 1393 m) respectively. This report represents the first for this species which is under the Endangered (EN) category of Panama´s List of threatened species of Fauna and Flora by Ministerio de Ambiente.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document