Biologia e tamanho da população da ararajuba (Guaruba guarouba) no oeste do Pará, Brasil, com recomendações para conservação

Golden Parakeets are a poorly known, endangered parrot endemic to the Brazilian Amazon. I describe the flocking patterns, the diet and nest sites of this species and estimate the abundance and size of its population in western Pará. During 2007, I spent about 500 hrs searching for flocks and making transect surveys. Golden Parakeets maintained family flocks of about 10 individuals throughout the year, confirming previous observations. My estimate of reproductive output from the proportion of first year juveniles in the flocks (around 13%) is within the range of estimates found for other parrots, suggesting a normal reproductive output. Feeding bouts (n = 82) confirmed a diversified diet that varies throughout the year, but some items (e.g., Byrsonima spp.; Tapirira guianensis) seem to be more important. All found nest trees were in open areas, adjacent to the continuous forest, exposed to the human disturbance, indicating a potential vulnerability. Surveys indicated that the Golden Parakeet is as common as other sympatric and non-threatened parrots, contrary to expectations. The species probably occupies the whole study region (a strip of about 340 km along the Tapajós river) with an estimated population size of about 500 individuals comprising the largest known population. My data and recent records of the species indicate that its global population size is larger than previously estimated and its official level of endangerment in the red lists should be re-examined

Padrões geográficos e conservação de aves nos habitats criados por rios na Amazônia

Rivers are fundamental features in the Amazonian biogeography. Despite that, specialization by birds in river-created habitats seems to have been under-appraised in most of biogeographical studies and synthesis. River-created habitats comprise a complex mosaic of forests and other vegetation types at distinct stages of succession, with variations related to river color or type. Extending almost linearly along rivers and covering more than 15% of the Amazon basin, these habitats shelter a rich avifauna, with more than 100 specialized or exclusive species. In this thesis, we investigated how Amazonian floodplain birds are distributed. In the first chapter, we set out to test the power of the “color” of rivers in predicting differences in the avifauna among sites in the Rio Negro basin. Based in bird standardized surveys at distinct tributaries, we showed species compositions were significantly distinct between black- and whitewater rivers. Several indicators species supported distinctions and the water type of the rivers arose as a first factor to understand general range patterns for floodplain specialized birds. On the other hand, “intermediary” avifaunas were found at some sites; and in the second chapter, we investigated if and how the confluence with Rio Branco, affects the avifauna along Rio Negro itself, which is the world’s largest blackwater river. We sampled islands and riverbanks along the middle and the lower Rio Negro, above and below, respectively the confluence with the Rio Branco, and compared with sampling from the Rio Branco itself. These surveys indicated a combination of avifaunas, with higher richness below the confluence. Moreover, overall variation in species composition along the confluence was correlated with distinct levels of sediment concentration in the water (a proxy for water type), supporting the importance of this factor to the occurrence of birds in the floodplains. This phenomenon, involving waters and avifaunas, expressed the potential multiple roles (isolating, connecting and maintaining habitats) of the several confluences between large Amazonian rivers of distinct water types on the distribution of floodplain biodiversity. Finally, in the third chapter, we reviewed and analyzed geographic distributions of floodplain specialized bird species. Occurrence data on an updated list of specialized taxa supported at least eleven potential specific areas of endemism, essentially distinct from large interfluvial areas that are valid for terra firme birds. A parallel subdivision of Amazonia with at least nine regions, based solely on the distributions of floodplain specialized birds emerged as an alternative background for evolutionary studies and conservation of the floodplains biodiversity. From a conservation perspective, the dependency of the avifauna on micro-habitats that are geographically restrict implies high vulnerability for floodplain specialists. Although large tracts of river-created habitats are covered by protected areas, populations of floodplain specialized birds are vulnerable given the plans of damming several Amazonian rivers, which might alter the formation and availability of these micro-habitats. In synthesis, this thesis expresses the biogeographic specificities for Amazonian floodplains. Range patterns for specialized birds reflect broadly the ecological distinctiveness and the complex history of rivers draining different regions. River-created habitats offer interesting opportunities to a better understanding of the richness and evolution of the Amazonian avifauna and total biodiversity.Os rios são os aspectos mais marcantes na biogeografia da Amazônia. Apesar disso, as aves especialistas nos habitats criados pelos próprios rios (i.e., ambientes alagáveis) parecem ter sido ignoradas na maior parte dos estudos e sínteses biogeográficas. Esses habitats ribeirinhos compreendem um complexo mosaico de florestas e outras fitofisionomias em diferentes estágios de sucessão, que variam de acordo com a cor ou o tipo de água dos rios. Cobrindo ao menos 15% da bacia amazônica, os ambientes alagáveis abrigam uma rica avifauna, com mais de 100 espécies exclusivas e especialistas. Nessa tese, nós investigamos como as aves especialistas nos habitats criados por rios estão distribuídas. No primeiro capítulo, nós testamos o poder da classificação dos rios de acordo com a cor da água (branca ou preta) em prever diferenças na avifauna entre localidades na bacia do Rio Negro. Com base em amostragens padronizadas das aves ao longo de diferentes tributários, nós mostramos que embora a riqueza de espécies tenha sido similar, a composição foi significativamente distinta entre rios de água branca e preta. Várias espécies indicadoras suportaram essa distinção e o tipo de água dos rios despontou como um instigante ponto de partida para entender os padrões gerais de distribuição das aves especialistas nesses habitats. Por outro lado, avifaunas “intermediárias” foram encontradas em algumas localidades; e no segundo capítulo, nós investigamos se a confluência com o Rio Branco, de água branca, muda a avifauna ao longo do próprio Rio Negro, que é o maior rio de água preta do mundo. Nós amostramos ilhas e margens ao longo do Rio Negro a montante e a jusante da confluência com o Rio Branco, e comparamos com amostragens no próprio Rio Branco. Essas amostragens revelaram uma miscelânea de avifaunas ao longo do Rio Negro, com maior riqueza no total abaixo da confluência. Além disso, a variação geral da avifauna na região foi correlacionada com distintos níveis de concentração de sedimentos na água (um parâmetro fundamental no tipo de água dos rios), o que indicou a importância desse fator para a ocorrência das aves nos ambientes alagáveis. Esse fenômeno de mistura de águas e avifaunas expressou os potenciais múltiplos papéis (isolamento, conexão e manutenção de habitats) das numerosas confluências de grandes rios amazônicos de diferentes tipos na distribuição da biodiversidade nesses habitats. Usando o tipo de água dos rios como ponto de partida, no terceiro capítulo, nós revisamos e analisamos as distribuições geográficas gerais das aves especialistas nos ambientes alagáveis. Dados inéditos de ocorrência de uma ampla e revisada lista dessas espécies especialistas confirmaram ao menos onze potenciais áreas de endemismo, essencialmente distintas das áreas coincidentes com grandes interflúvios, válidas para aves de terra-firme. Uma subdivisão da Amazônia em ao menos nove regiões, baseada na distribuição das aves especialistas nos ambientes alagáveis, é uma base alternativa para estudos da evolução e para conservação da biodiversidade. Em termos de conservação, a especialização das aves à micro-habitats específicos e geograficamente restritos indica alta vulnerabilidade. Embora grandes extensões dos ambientes alagáveis estejam sob proteção, as populações dessas espécies estão ameaçadas pelos planos de instalação de hidroelétricas em vários rios amazônicos, que devem alterar a formação e a disponibilidade desses micro-habitats. Em síntese, essa tese consolida as especificidades biogeográficas dos habitats criados por rios na Amazônia. Padrões de distribuição das aves especialistas refletem amplamente as disparidades ecológicas e a complexa história recente de rios drenando diferentes regiões. Esses habitats oferecem oportunidades para uma melhor compreensão da riqueza e evolução da avifauna e da biodiversidade amazônica

Onde está o símbolo da ornitologia brasileira? a distribuição geográfica da ararajuba (guarouba guarouba - psittacidae)

The Golden Parakeet (Guarouba guarouba) is a poorly known, endangered psittacid endemic to the Brazilian Amazon. We examined point records of the species to identify possible temporal changes in its occurrence and to model its potential distribution. It is known from roughly 70 localities. After 1987, new records extend the known distribution considerably to the southwest, whereas regions at the eastern end of the range do not contain recent records. We interpret the former as improved knowledge of the true historical distribution based on increased sampling, and the latter as a genuine range retraction, best explained by deforestation in that region. We estimate the species' current area of occurrence at 340,000 km2, embracing less than 65% of its original range. Distribution models predict a potential distribution of the Golden Parakeet throughout a region of relatively low humidity, at the interface between lowland and submontane rainforest at the border of the Brazilian Shield. This distribution coincides with the colonization frontier ("arc of deforestation") in the Amazon, which places the species' future in serious risk. Existing and planned parks and reserves in the Tapajos River region appear to offer the best hope for protection of currently known populations. Furthermore, we hope that our distribution model leads to intensive searches and discovery of populations previously unknown and to improved understanding of habitat preference and niche

Major range extension for Orange-fronted Plushcrown Metopothrix aurantiaca in the central Amazon of Brazil

Orange-fronted Plushcrown Metopothrix aurantiaca is a unique, but easily overlooked, small furnariid found in the midstorey and canopy of riverine areas in the Amazon. The species' previously published distribution includes parts of southernmost Colombia, eastern Ecuador, eastern Peru, northern Bolivia and western Brazil. In the easternmost part of its distribution (Brazil), M. aurantiaca occurs in the states of Acre, Amazonas and Rondônia, east to 64°W. We present nine new records of the species in Brazil, all of them east of its previously known distribution and together extending the range by c.750 km. These new records derive from sampling that includes collecting expeditions, exhaustive várzea surveys, and incidental observations. We propose a new continuous distribution for this species restricted to white-water river floodplains with known occurrences. © 2019 The Authors

Three bird species new to Brazil from the serra da mocidade, a remote mountain in Roraima

From 15 January to 06 February 2016, we conducted an expedition to the Serra da Mocidade, a remote and previously unexplored mountain range in extreme northern Amazonian Brazil. There we encountered three bird species never before documented in Brazilian territory: Grallaria guatimalensis (Grallariidae) was photographed, audio recorded, video recorded and a single specimen collected; Catharus aurantiirostris (Turdidae) was similarly documented and a series of specimens collected; and a single individual of Parkesia motacilla (Parulidae) was photographed. All were found in the understory of montane forest at 1000–1550 m elevation. We interpret each of these as most likely representing a regularly occurring population on Mocidade. However, each had probably been overlooked in Brazil for a different reason and represents a distinct distributional pattern. Adding these novelties to Brazil's previously published total of 1919 species clearly expresses the country's position among the most bird-rich in the world, perhaps the richest, and suggests that further exploration of Brazil's Amazonian mountains will yield more discoveries. © 2019, Sociedade Brasileira de Ornitologia. All rights reserved

Protocolo para monitoramento de comunidades de aves em unidades de conservação federais

A protocol was designed by us for monitoring birds in the context of the Brazilian in situbiodiversity monitoring program on federal protected areas of Chico Mendes Biodiversity ConservationInstitute. Brazilian protected areas have different financial and infrastructural conditions, as well as humanresources. Thus factors consequently influence the capacity of managers to implement environmentalprograms and proposals. Thus, a minimum protocol was designed to be feasible even in protected areasthat do not have optimal logistical conditions. Based on a systematic review, the point count method wasselected due to its versatility and it provides a good benefit-cost ratio, besides being widely used in monitoringprojects of bird communities. The presented protocol proposes the adoption of sample site composed by 12point count sites, with a distance of 200 m between points, besides 50 m detection ratio. At each protectedarea should be deployed at least three independent sample blocks, totaling 36 points evaluated during thereproductive season. We hope that this protocol may contribute to the standardization of sampling insideof protected areas - and even for similar projects, and the results of the monitoring program in Brazilianreserves allow the assessment of the degree of integrity and the efficiency of the protected areas system, thusassisting future management plansEl protocolo aquí presentado fue construido en el contexto del programa de monitoreo de labiodiversidad en áreas protegidas federales del Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservación de la Biodiversidad.Las áreas nacionales de conservación tienen diferentes condiciones de manejo, relacionadas con los recursoshumanos, financieros y materiales, y que influyen en la capacidad de ejecución de las propuestas y de losprogramas ambientales. Considerando esa situación, se construyó un protocolo con abordajes mínimospara que comenzase a ejecutarse en áreas de conservación, mismo las que no presentasen las condicionesideales de gestión. Basado en un análisis sistemático, se seleccionó el método del punto fijo para hacer partedel protocolo debido a su versatilidad, ser el que presenta mejores características de coste-beneficio, y portratarse de un proceso ampliamente utilizado en otros proyectos de monitoreo de las comunidades de aves.El protocolo presentado en este trabajo propone la adopción de una parcela de muestreo que consiste 12puntos de muestreo con separación mínima de 200 metros entre ellos y radio de detección de 50 metros.En cada Unidad de Conservación (UC) estudiada, se debe implementar al menos tres parcelas de muestreoindependientes en un total de 36 puntos de muestreo durante la estación reproductiva. Esperamos queeste protocolo contribuya ampliamente a la obtención de datos estandarizados dentro de las unidades deconservación - incluso en proyectos similares, y que los resultados de este muestreo ayuden en la evaluacióndel grado de integridad y eficiencia del sistema nacional de unidades de conservación.Este protocolo de monitoramento de comunidades de aves foi construído no contexto do Programa de Monitoramento in situ da Biodiversidade em unidades de conservação federais do Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade. As unidades de conservação federais possuem diferentes condições de gestão, relacionadas aos recursos humanos, financeiros e materiais, e que, consequentemente, influenciam sua capacidade de execução de propostas e programas ambientais. Com essa realidade em mente, foi construído um protocolo mínimo que fosse factível mesmo em unidades de conservação que não apresentassem condições ideais de estrutura e logística. Com base em uma análise sistemática, e com a finalidade de fornecer dados sobre a estrutura de comunidade de aves, o método de ponto fixo foi o selecionado para compor o protocolo por ser versátil, apresentar melhores características de custo-benefício e ser amplamente utilizado em outros projetos de monitoramento de comunidades de aves. O protocolo apresentado propõe a adoção de uma estação de amostragem constituída por 12 pontos fixos com uma distância mínima de 200 metros entre eles e raio de detecção máximo de 50 metros. Em cada unidade de conservação deverá ser implementado um mínimo de três estações de amostragem independentes, totalizando 36 pontos avaliados durante a estação reprodutiva. Esperamos que este protocolo contribua com a coleta de dados padronizada nas unidades de conservação - e até mesmo em projetos similares, e dessa maneira seja possível que os resultados desse monitoramento permitam avaliar o grau de integridade dessas unidades assim como comparar as informações entre as unidades de conservação, avaliando a efetividade do Sistema Nacional de Unidades de Conservação (SNUC)

Abundância de gavião-real e gavião-real falso numa área sob impacto de reservatório no Baixo e Médio rio Xingu

In the Brazilian Amazon, two monospecific genera, the Harpy Eagle and Crested Eagle have low densities and are classified by IUCN as Near Threatened due to habitat loss, deforestation, habitat degradation and hunting. In this study, we evaluate occurrence of these large raptors using the environmental surveys database from Belo Monte Hydroelectric Power Plant. Integrating the dataset from two methods, we plotted a distribution map along the Xingu River, including records over a 276-km stretch of river. Terrestrial surveys (RAPELD method) were more efficient for detecting large raptors than standardized aquatic surveys, although the latter were complementary in areas without modules. About 53% of the records were obtained during activities of wildlife rescue/flushing, vegetation suppression or in transit. Between 2012 and 2014, four Harpy Eagles were removed from the wild; two shooting victims, one injured by collision with power lines and one hit by a vehicle. Also, seven nests were mapped. The mean distance between Harpy Eagle records was 15 km along the river channel, with a mean of 20 km between nests near the channel, which allowed us to estimate 20 possible pairs using the alluvial forest, riverine forest and forest fragments. Territories of another ten pairs will probably be affected by inundation of the Volta Grande channel, which is far from the main river. The average distance between Crested Eagle records was 16 km along the river channel. The only nest found was 1.3 km away from a Harpy Eagle nest. The remnant forests are under threat of being replaced by cattle pastures, so we recommend that permanently protected riparian vegetation borders (APP) be guaranteed, and that forest fragments within 5 km of the river be conserved to maintain eagle populations. © 2015, Instituto Internacional de Ecologia. All rights reserved