Freitas and Rodrigues • TERRITORY SIZE AND HABITAT USE OF SERRA FINCH 
63 
TABLE 4. Habitat ranking matrices for nine Serra Finch pairs in Sena do Cipd National Park, derived from log-ratio 
differences based on compositional analysis. Triple sign represents significant deviation from random at /’ < 0.05. Second- 
aider habitat selection compared proportion of habitat used within 05% kernel territories with proportion ot total available 
habitat in the study area, and third-order compared the proportion of locations for each animal in each habitat type with the 
piuportionofeach habitat type within the finches's 95% kernel territories. Rank from the least to the most preferred habitat. 
Candeial 
Rocky outcrop 
Dry scrubland 
Wet scrubland 
Woodland 
Second-order 
Candeial 
- 
+ 
- 
— 
Rocky outcrop 
+ 
+■ 
— 
Dry scrubland 
- 
- 
— 
Wet scrubland 
+ 
+ 
+++ 
+ 
Woodland 
+ 
+ 
+++ 
— 
Third-order 
Candeial 
+++ 
+++ 
+++ 
+ 
Rocky outcrop 
— 
+ 
+ 
Dry scrubland 
— 
- 
+ 
Wet scrubland 
— 
- 
- 
— 
Woodland 
- 
+ 
+ 
+++ 
boundaries of the pair’s territory. This preference 
may be the result of higher concentration of fruits, 
mostly Malastomataceae fruits, which are an 
important resource for the Serra Finch (Hoffmann 
et al. 2009; GHSF, pers. obs.). Species of 
Melastomataceae are highly diverse in the compos 
rupestres (Giullieti el al. 1997) and produce fleshy 
"mithucoric fruits, which are abundant in riparian 
woodlands, rocky outcrops, and scrublands, while 
almost 'H» fleshy fruits are available in grasslands, 
die distribution of these particular plants closely 
mmches the pattern of habitat use by Serra 
inches in our study area. 
fbird-order selection examines the specific use 
01 ,lat) itut components within the home-range area 
'Johnson 1980). Our ranking at this spatial scale 
'election indicates a preference for candeial. This 
vegetation is typically on the western slopes ot the 
Wi do Cipo (Melo-Junior ct al. 2001), and is 
Patchily distributed in the study area. This habitat 
dors hoi supply fruits hut does supply arthropods 
perches. We also detected more preference 
1 r riparian woodland than wet scrubland at this 
%ale suggesting preference for habitals with 
w °ody elements. This contrasts with previous 
'"formation about Serra Finch preference for open 
'fetation habitats (Mattes and Sick 1985, 
v asconcelos 2001. Hoffmann et al. 2009). 
CONSERVATION IMPLICATIONS 
We identified the most important habitat types 
ln foe compos rupestres complex for the Serra 
Finch and described the spatial distribution that 
should influence development of better long-term 
conservation strategies. Actions that contribute to 
reduce habitat quality for the species should be 
avoided (BirdLife International 2011). The con¬ 
servation priority should be maintenance ot the 
most preferred habitats ot the Serra Finch that po¬ 
ssibly contribute most to species fitness (Garshelis 
2000). Preservation of valleys, woodlands and 
scrublands, and water in the mountains within the 
species range must be prioritized; especially 
important is protection and maintenance of 
riparian woodlands and candeial. Those habitats 
have been intensely exploited in the region for 
production of wood and also for oil extraction in 
the candeial (Ribeiro et al. 2009). 
The mountain range where the Serra Finch 
occurs is critically threatened due to increasing 
land conversion and no effective conservation 
plans (Jacobi et al. 2007, Martinelli 2007). The 
actual habitat protection law is under review 
which may be detrimental to the currently 
protected areas (Ribeiro and Freitas 2010). 
One of the most common threats for the compos 
rupestres complex are annual fires, mainly 
promoted to benefit livestock. Annual fires tend 
to reduce the extent of scrublands and woody 
elements while increasing the dominance of 
grassland habitats (Coutinho 1990. Moreira 
2000). The Alto do Palacio is a protected area 
and (here have been no recent reports of fires, 
unlike in neighboring areas (Franca and Ribeiro 
