Bird breeding biology and homogenization process in an urban green area at Atlantic rainforest of Southeastern Brazil

By

Santos, Gabriel Silva
Colonna Ribeiro, Isael
D'Avila Centoducatte, Luana
Lucena Mendes, Sérgio

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2019-4-11

Original Publication

Neotropical Biology and Conservation

Volume

14

Series / Issue

Issue: 1

Pages

83--98

Subjects

Anthropization , breeding biology , homogenization , Urban birds , Urbanization

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Brazil Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/neotropical.14.e34838

 

Abstract

Urbanization is a major cause of biotic homogenization, once it modifies species habitat and creates new environments in which only a few species are able to survive. However, many authors propose that planned green areas within the bounds of urban centers work real islands, providing shelter for several animal species. In this study, we verified the reproductive pattern of a community of birds within an urban green area in southeastern Brazil. Also, we compared the composition of breeding sites and reproductive activities of birds in different environments available and provided insights about how homogenization process affects birds in the study site. We recorded 359 reproductive sites of 36 species. Our data represents 48% of bird species recorded by previous reports at this study site. Out of the total reproductive records, 68.5% were found in wooded areas, even though this land cover class represents only 26.8% of the analyzed landscape. The proportion and the uniqueness of species at this study site show its importance to maintenance of the local diversity of birds. Our results indicate that a local bird diversity homogenization is in process and they provide subsidies for better management practices of green areas within urban centers.