Bird richness and composition in a Cerrado fragment in the State of São Paulo Riqueza e composição da avifauna em um fragmento de Cerrado no estado de São Paulo

Bird species richness is an important measure for monitoring biodiversity changes. We analysed avifauna richness and composition in a 472 ha protected cerrado fragment and surroundings at Fazenda Canchim (RL-CPPSE), São Carlos, in the State of São Paulo (SP). We carried out 95.1 hours of observation (22 visits) at irregular intervals from May 2004 to December 2006. Qualitative surveys were done walking through tracks inside the fragment and on the roads at its edge. We recorded 160 species, six of which were endemic to Cerrado domain, 22 migratory, seven threatened within the State of São Paulo, and two globally threatened. We found 28 species in the cerradão, 110 in the cerrado sensu stricto, 13 in the gallery forest, 26 in the reservoir border, 26 in pasturelands and sugar cane monoculture and 55 in an anthropic area. Most of the species had low frequency of occurrence in all vegetation forms. Insectivores were the major trophic category (46.9%), which is typical in tropical regions, and it is also related to resource availability. Omnivores followed with 19.4%, granivores with 8.8% and frugivores with 7.5%. We conclude that, despite its size and conservation status, our study area has a remarkable bird community and must be considered as a priority conservation area to preserve bird species in Sao Paulo State.A riqueza de espécies é uma medida importante para o monitoramento da perda de biodiversidade. Nosso objetivo foi verificar a riqueza e a composição da avifauna em um fragmento de cerrado de 472 ha na Fazenda Canchim (RL-CPPSE), São Carlos, Estado de São Paulo (SP). Realizamos 95,1 horas de observação (22 visitas) entre maio de 2004 e dezembro de 2006, em intervalos irregulares. Percorremos trilhas dentro do fragmento e estradas na sua borda considerando diferentes tipos de vegetação. Registramos 160 espécies, das quais seis são endêmicas do Cerrado, 22 migratórias, sete ameaçadas de extinção no estado de São Paulo e duas globalmente ameaçadas. Registramos 28 espécies no cerradão, 110 no cerrado sensu stricto, 13 na mata ciliar, 26 no entorno de uma represa, 26 em pastagens e plantações de cana-de-açúcar e 55 em áreas antropizadas. A maioria das espécies ocorreu em baixa freqüência em todos os tipos de vegetação. A categoria com maior número de espécies foi a dos insetívoros (46,9%), padrão típico em regiões tropicais e, provavelmente, relacionado à disponibilidade de recursos na área. A segunda categoria trófica foi a dos onívoros (19,4%), seguida pelos granívoros (8,8%) e frugívoros (7,5%). Nossos resultados destacam consideráveis registros de espécies aves e a importância da área de estudo na preservação da biodiversidade da avifauna no cerrado paulista

Bird richness and composition in a Cerrado fragment in the State of São Paulo

Bird species richness is an important measure for monitoring biodiversity changes. We analysed avifauna richness and composition in a 472 ha protected cerrado fragment and surroundings at Fazenda Canchim (RL-CPPSE), São Carlos, in the State of São Paulo (SP). We carried out 95.1 hours of observation (22 visits) at irregular intervals from May 2004 to December 2006. Qualitative surveys were done walking through tracks inside the fragment and on the roads at its edge. We recorded 160 species, six of which were endemic to Cerrado domain, 22 migratory, seven threatened within the State of São Paulo, and two globally threatened. We found 28 species in the cerradão, 110 in the cerrado sensu stricto, 13 in the gallery forest, 26 in the reservoir border, 26 in pasturelands and sugar cane monoculture and 55 in an anthropic area. Most of the species had low frequency of occurrence in all vegetation forms. Insectivores were the major trophic category (46.9%), which is typical in tropical regions, and it is also related to resource availability. Omnivores followed with 19.4%, granivores with 8.8% and frugivores with 7.5%. We conclude that, despite its size and conservation status, our study area has a remarkable bird community and must be considered as a priority conservation area to preserve bird species in Sao Paulo State

Leaf habit does not predict leaf functional traits in cerrado woody species

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Plant species with a high leaf life span (LLS) commonly have a low specific leaf area (SLA), leaf nitrogen per unit mass (N), and phosphorous concentration (P), whereas species with low LLS have a high SLA, N and P. However, LLS tends to be longer in species growing in low-nutrient soils and, therefore, differences in LLS and other leaf traits may not be consistent with a plant classification according to leaf habit. Here we investigated whether leaf habit is consistent with leaf economic spectrum trade-offs in cerrado (a Neotropical savanna) woody species. We analyzed the SLA, N and P of 125 woody species with a distinct leaf habit (deciduous, semideciduous, brevideciduous or evergreen). We also gathered data on the LLS (33 species), maximum net photosynthesis per leaf area (A(area), 56 species) and per leaf mass (A(mass), 31 species), comprising the most extensive database analyzed so far for the cerrado. Differences among leaf habit groups were tested using generalized linear mixed models and ANOVA. We did not find differences in SLA and N among species with a distinct leaf habit, but deciduous species had a higher leaf P concentration than evergreens. Species did not differ in LLS and A(mass), but A(area) varied among groups. Semideciduous species had higher A(area) values than deciduous and brevideciduous species, but all other groups had similar A(area) values. Because of the small difference in the LLS, SLA, leaf N, leaf P and maximum net photosynthesis, we argue that deciduous, brevideciduous, semideciduous and evergreen species may not constitute different functional groups in cerrado woody species.145404412Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)FAPEG [006/2009]Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)CNPq [478747/2009-8]FAPEG [006/2009

Multimodal flight display of a neotropical songbird predicts social pairing but not extrapair mating success

Models of sexual selection predict that socially monogamous females may gain direct or indirect (genetic) benefits by mating with multiple males. We addressed current hypotheses by investigating how, in the socially monogamous blue-black grassquit (Volatinia jacarina), male courtship and territory quality varied with social and extrapair paternity. Males of this tropical granivorous passerine exhibit multimodal displays integrating motor (leap displays) and acoustic components. Across 3 years, we found that extrapair paternity ranged from 8 to 34 % of all nestlings and from 11 to 47 % of all broods. Extrapair and socially paired male territories had similar seed densities. Females preferred to pair socially with males executing higher leaps, but no other male display characteristic associated with paternity loss and extrapair fertilizations. Extrapair and social mates did not differ in genetic similarity to female partners nor in inbreeding levels. Additionally, inbreeding and body condition of extrapair and within-pair nestlings did not differ. Thus, not only did we reject the direct benefits hypothesis for extrapair copulations, but our results also did not support the additive and nonadditive genetic benefits hypotheses. Instead, we found support for benefits through selection of potentially “good fathers,” specifically for females that chose to pair socially with males exhibiting enhanced performance in their displays.</p