Effect of temporal lakes on avifaunal composition at the Southeast of Isthmus of Tehuantepec, Oaxaca, Mexico

Abstract

Oaxaca hosts one of the greatest biodiversity in México, occupying first place in avian diversity compared to other regions of the country. However, the area is undergoing serious problems such as high deforestation rates, soil erosion and over exploitation and extinction of species. These factors have all contributed to the current loss of biodiversity. Also, biological inventories are still incomplete. One of the least explored sites is the semiarid zone of Tehuantepec isthmus, around the locality of Santa Maria del Mar, Oaxaca, México. The area includes floodable grasslands, mangrove areas and dry forest, providing a range of potential habitats for different species. Our objective was to evaluate the effect of temporal lakes on spatial and temporal composition of the avifauna in Santa Maria del Mar, in order to generate information regarding this group within the region and the state, and to understand the importance of flood areas for resident and transitory birds. We conducted 12 avifauna surveys between July 2006 and June 2008, and established two transects of 2km length in each of four habitat types (beach, grassland, dry forest, and mangrove). We found a total of 75 species, corresponding to 16 orders and 30 families. Within an area of 26km 2 , we significantly found 10.1% of the total number of bird species recorded for the entire state, and 6.6% of the total reported in Mexico. The families most represented were: Ardeidae, Laridae and Scolopacidae. Over the entire study period, dry forest was the most diverse habitat; followed by mangrove, grassland and the beach. Of all the species recorded, 38.6% were found at the edge or in the temporal lakes. We found a significant difference in species composition between seasons in the grassland, but no difference in the other habitats. Our results showed a significant effect of temporary lakes on avian diversity during the wet season; it also demonstrated the importance of grassland conservation given its relevance for presence of waterbirds. We suggested a continued and more intense monitoring; and proposed the designation of the area as an important Conservation Bird Area (AiCA). Rev. Biol. Trop. 62 (4): 1523-1533. Epub 2014 December 01.Key words: bird diversity, important Conservation Bird Area, AiCA, season effect, waterbirds, water bodies.Mexico is considered one of the five megadiverse countries in the world; however, the country is undergoing a profound ecological crisis increased by global warming, high rates of deforestation, soil erosion and over exploitation and extinction of species. These factors have all contributed to the current loss of biodiversity (Toledo, 1992;Primack, Rozzi, Feinsinger, Dirzo, & Massardo, 2001;Martínez-Meyer, Sosa-Escalante, & Noguera, 2014). in the interior of the country, the state of Oaxaca hosts one of the greatest biodiversity (García-Mendoza, Ordóñez-Díaz, & BrionesSalas, 2004); it occupies the first place in terms of amphibians and birds diversity of (NavarroSigüenza et al., 2014;Parra-Olea, Flores-villela, &...

A bridge between oceans: overland migration of marine birds in a wind energy corridor

“…In addition to its importance as a migration corridor, the Tehuantepec region is also a key wintering area for waterbirds of unknown breeding origin. The Lagunas del Istmo, a vast, remote wetland complex on the Pacific coast of the isthmus, supports large numbers of shorebirds, wading birds, and nearshore seabirds representing a variety of species (Aid et al 1997, Rioja-Paradela et al 2014. Since many of the nearest breeding aggregations of coastal birds in the region are located along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, observers have suggested that marine-associated bird species may cross the Tehuantepec Isthmus to winter in the Lagunas (Binford 1989).…”

Green Barrier Pt Pusri Potential as Bird Habitat

“…According o Ewbank (2015), Ardeola speciosa is usually foraging by standing, waiting and walked slowly around the waters. Paradela et al (2014) mentioned that the artificial lake as a water source in the area of the isthmus led to the addition of the abundance of species and the diversity of avifauna significantly. In addition, young sandpipers birds known migration in the second half of July, more than in the second half of August (Meissner 1997).…”

Riqueza y conservación de las aves del suroeste de Oaxaca

“…Por ejemplo, en la microcuenca del río Cacaluta representaron el 71% (Bojorges-Baños 2011c); en los sistemas lagunares de la costa, el 74% (Bojorges-Baños 2011b), y en el río Sabino, el 70 % (Vázquez et al 2009). Por otra parte, en las montañas del centro-occidente alcanzaron el 85% (Lavariega et al 2016) y, en contraste, en lagos temporales del istmo de Tehuantepec fueron sólo el 55% (Rioja-Paradela et al 2014). Las vertientes costeras, tanto del Pacífico como del Atlántico y el sureste de México, son rutas importantes para las aves que se reproducen en Norteamérica (Hutto 1986, Peterson et al 2003, entre ellas, las acuáticas que están bien representadas en la costa oaxaqueña (Navarro-Sigüenza et al 2004).…”

“…al. 2015, 2018c, Álvarez-Álvarez et al 2018, en el oeste de Jalisco (Ramírez-Albores 2007), en Oaxaca (Binford 1989, Bojorges-Baños 2011a, 2011c, Rioja-Paradela et al 2014, Ruiz-Bruce-Taylor et al 2017, así como en tratados avifaunísticos estatales para Chiapas (Álvarez 1971) y Jalisco (Palomera- García et al 2007). También destacan estudios regionales sobre la distribución y abundancia de especies de migración latitudinal (Hutto 1980(Hutto , 1992.…”

“…Particularmente, para Oaxaca, los estudios ornitológicos de la vertiente del Pacífico incluyen uno de los registros notables de cinco especies (Bojorges-Baños 2011c); un análisis de la diversidad en los sistemas lagunares costeros La Ventanilla, Manialtepec y Chacahua, en donde se registró un total de 94 especies (Bojorges-Baños 2011b); uno sobre la composición avifaunística en lagos temporales en el istmo de Tehuantepec, en el que encontraron 75 especies (Rioja-Paradela et al 2014); uno sobre la estimación de la riqueza de aves en la laguna costera La Ventanilla-Tonameca, donde reportan la presencia de 185 especies (Ruiz-Bruce-Taylor y Bojorges-Baños 2014), y otro sobre la variación en la estructura de gremios en sistemas lagunares costeros, donde reportan 139 especies (Ruiz-Bruce- Taylor et al 2017). También hay un estudio sobre la densidad poblacional de tres paseriformes en la Sierra Tolistoque (Monroy-Ojeda et al 2018).…”