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Topography as a determinant of bird distribution in secondary Atlantic Forest fragments

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 August 2021

Rômulo Ribon Open the ORCID record for Rômulo Ribon [Opens in a new window] ,
Luane Reis dos Santos ,
Paulo De Marco Júnior  and
Miguel Ângelo Marini
Rômulo Ribon*
Affiliation:
Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia, Conservação e Manejo de Vida Silvestre, Departamento de Biologia Geral, ICB, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 30161-970, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil Current Address: Museu de Zologia João Moojen, Departamento de Biologia Animal, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36570-000, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Luane Reis dos Santos
Affiliation:
Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasília, 70910-900, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil
Paulo De Marco Júnior
Affiliation:
Departamento de Biologia Geral, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Campus II, Centro, 74001-970, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
Miguel Ângelo Marini
Affiliation:
Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasília, 70910-900, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil
*
Author for correspondence: Rômulo Ribon, Email: romulo.ribon@ufv.br
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Abstract

The spatial distribution of Neotropical birds at local scales is often associated with plant successional stages and unique microhabitats such as bamboo stands and treefall gaps. Only 15% of the Atlantic Forest remains, yet this habitat is home to more than 200 endemic birds. Understanding the distribution of bird species within the Atlantic Forest can improve the test of ecological hypotheses related to habitat use and habitat selection. This study analyses the distribution of birds among different types of relief (lowlands, ravines, hillsides, and hilltops) in 41 forest fragments of different sizes (1 to 384.5 ha) within the Atlantic Forest, south east Brazil. The presence and absence data were analysed with dynamic occupancy models to determine the influence of area and topography in the distribution of bird species. Of the 169 species detected, we were able to estimate an occupancy probability of 67. Among them, relief type was an important variable for 26 species (39%). Most species showed a preference for lowlands and ravines, and some showed an association of combinations of these two reliefs with hillsides and hilltops. These preferences might be related to distribution of preferred food, nesting microhabitats, and thermoregulation. For the endemic and threatened Atlantic Forest mountain birds, the ecological association with areas of relief is a strong, and previously unsuspected, spatial distribution pattern. Our results suggest that the ecology and distribution of birds in tropical forests across hilly regions could be better understood if topography is considered. This pattern should be better investigated among other taxa in tropical forests.

Keywords

Atlantic Foresthabitat useNeotropical Regionpoint countsravinessecondary foreststopographical diversity
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Tropical Ecology , Volume 37 , Issue 5 , September 2021 , pp. 228 - 234
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© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

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