Birds of a habitat spectrum in the Itirapina Savanna, São Paulo, Brazil (1982-2003)

Abstract

Some 231 birds were recorded on a sandy plateau in central Sao Paulo, in an area forming a natural "habitat spectrum", from dry or wet grasslands to bushy ones (campo-cerrado) plus gallery scrub, marshes, and low woods. Subtracting 12 species that mostly flew over, and 56 species that seemed to be vagrants or accidental visitors, 163 species were regular (including 14 that center in nearby anthropogenically-modified zones). The 69 in gallery areas are mostly regionally common woodland species, but one southeastern species has disappeared over the years and three northwestern dry-forest species have entered. The 81 grassland species include several rare birds, and hence are important despite exhibiting lower biodiversity than in regional forest areas. Seven rare species disappeared over the years, some due to lack of fires, others because of either recent "greenhouse" dry years or protected vegetation growing to taller campo-cerrado. Several other species are becoming rare. Low vegetation forms a spectrum of temporally unstable habitats that change rapidly; one needs actively managed large areas and corridors even though many open-area birds can fly long distances to varying habitat patches.

Range extensions and conservation of some threatened or little known Brazilian grassland birds

“…Although populations of many grassland birds have declined sharply throughout the Western Hemisphere during the past decades (Vickery et al 1999), these species have received little attention compared to tropical forest birds (Willis andOniki 1992, Stotz et al 1996). Modernisation and mechanisation of agricultural practices in central Brazil during the last two decades resulted in profound changes in grassland habitats, which threatened several habitat-restricted birds with extinction Willis 1997, Cavalcanti 1999).…”

Birds at Santa Bárbara Ecological Station, one of the last Cerrado remnants in the state of São Paulo, Brazil

“…On the other hand, Santa Bá rbara and Itirapina Ecological Stations were more similar regarding the different types of avifauna, differing from geographically closer areas (Figure 3). It has been suggested that closer specific composition in both areas is due to similarities in the mosaic of grassland and savanna physiognomies and their surroundings (Willis 2004, Motta-Jú nior et al 2008. Differences in species composition between them probably reflect the proportions of occupation by physiognomies on each.…”

“…Species composition was compared to other areas of Cerrado within Sã o Paulo, namely: Botanical Garden/UNESP Reserve in Bauru (Cavarzere et al 2011), Canchim Farm in São Carlos (Manica et al 2010), UNESP Reserve in Corumbataí (Willis 2006), Itirapina Ecological Station (Willis 2004, Motta-Jú nior et al 2008, Fieker et al 2013, Itirapina Experimental Station , Jataí Ecological Station (Dias 2000), Cerrado Pé-de-Gigante/Vassununga State Park (Willis & Oniki 2003, Develey et al 2005, and UFSCar, campus Sã o Carlos (Motta-Jú nior 1990) ( Figure 1). Similarities (Jaccard's index) between areas were evaluated through the UPGMA clustering analysis with Euclidean distance matrix, using the R stats package (R Development Core Team 2008).…”

Habitat use by Collared Crescentchest (Melanopareia torquata) in a Cerrado in southeastern Brazil: implications for management

“…Current studies in EEI show that the population of the species is small from 43 to 76 individuals (Kanegae, 2011) and is probably reducing (Willis, 2004). The major threats for these species in EEI are high frequency of fire (every two years), expansion of exotic grasses and invasion by exotic animals.…”

“…The Collared Crescentchest was chosen because it is easy to detect acoustically and is reducing in this region (Willis, 2004). Our objectives were to evaluate two scales of habitat use: macrohabitat (landscape) and microhabitat (local foraging and use of perch).…”