Influence of historical and contemporary factors on the biogeographical regionalization of Atlantic Forest birds

• Grant number: 23/01803-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: August 01, 2023
• End date: February 28, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology - Theoretical Ecology
• Principal Investigator: Fernando Rodrigues da Silva
• Grantee: Anna Elizabeth de Oliveira Silva
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias para a Sustentabilidade (CCTS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). Sorocaba , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 23/18104-9 - Integrating Biogeography and Phylogenetics to understand the distribution of bird diversity in the Atlantic Forest, BE.EP.MS

Abstract

Biogeographic regionalization is a representation of the geographic distribution of species in space in response to past and current abiotic and biotic factors, through which it is possible to obtain relevant information for understanding the processes that shape certain patterns. This approach has been used to fill knowledge gaps and guide species conservation practices, which is even more relevant in large global biodiversity hotspots, such as the Atlantic Forest. In this context, the bird community stands out because of its expressive numbers in terms of diversity and endemism, as well as the non-random component observed in richness gradients and species distribution patterns. As observed in studies on other taxa, diversity variations between the southern and northern regions of the Atlantic Forest are also a general pattern for the avifauna. However, the existence of a significant number of endemic areas may suggest that more comprehensive and representative studies could identify other regions. In addition, new regionalization studies can expand the discussion about the processes that determine these patterns. In this project, I will analyze the relative importance of contemporary and historical climatic variables, topography, river barriers, and vegetation structure in the biogeographic regionalization of the Atlantic Forest bird community. I hypothesize that these factors are non-mutually exclusive conditions, which together will determine the biogeographic regions of birds within the Atlantic Forest. I hope to fill a relevant knowledge gap and generate new insights into the processes and mechanisms that shape the current patterns of bird diversity in the Atlantic Forest, contributing to a broader understanding of local community dynamics.