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Functional richness and diversity of bird assemblages in the Atlantic Forest

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Author(s):
Alex Augusto de Abreu Bovo
Total Authors: 1
Document type: Master's Dissertation
Press: Piracicaba.
Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALA/BC)
Defense date:
Examining board members:
Katia Maria Paschoaletto Micchi de Barros Ferraz; Erica Hasui; Milton Cezar Ribeiro
Advisor: Katia Maria Paschoaletto Micchi de Barros Ferraz
Abstract

Bird assemblages composition suffer alteration according to landscape changes. The substitution of forest by others land uses can affect the group of functions, and consequently, the ecological process played by birds. This dissertation had two main goals: 1) to identify landscape metrics which has relation with functional diversity and richness of bird assemblages; and 2) to identify morphological changes in fruit-eater bird assemblage and discuss the potentials impacts on the seed dispersal process. To reach this, a database was created using literature data, with 48 bird assemblages of Atlantic Forest remnants from 33 studies. From the most central point of each fragment, was created a focal landscape of 2000 meters buffer, the land use was classified in \'forest\' or \'non-forest\' and metrics was calculated. The index of bird assemblages used were composition and functional diversity and richness, calculated using morphological and habitat traits. Linear regression and mixed models were used to investigate relationships between landscape metrics and i) functional diversity and richness of forest birds (obj. 1) and ii) functional diversity, species richness and morphological traits of fruit-eater birds (obj. 2). The results showed that fragment area and core area were the most important traits to preserve the functions in bird assemblage, demonstrating the importance of big blocks of forest. To morphological changes, the decreasing on forest over was related to decreases on values of: body mass, hand-wing index and bill width. The reduction of these values can promote the dispersal of smaller seeds, reduction on dispersal of plants with big seed and decreases of area cover by seed rain. (AU)

FAPESP's process: 13/24929-9 - Bird assemblages as indicator of forest quality
Grantee:Alex Augusto de Abreu Bovo
Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master