Community of birds in a mosaic of eucalyptus and native vegetation in trÊs lagoas, MS, Brazil

Abstract

One of the largest wood cellulose production areas worldwide is located in the municipality of Três Lagoas. Encounters with animals are not rare in these areas, and in this study we present the results of an avifauna monitoring conducted in an Eucalyptus farm in the municipality of Três Lagoas, in areas cultivated for cellulose and paper production. The data was collected in remnants of native vegetation and Eucalyptus plantations from August 2007 to November 2016, during 28 field campaigns. For this, we applied point-count, transection and non-systematized sampling methods, totaling a sample effort of 606.7 h. A total of 308 birds were registered, of which two are endangered at the national or world level: Bare-faced Curassow (Crax fasciolata) and Crowned Eagle (Urubitinga coronata). Ten and seven species are endemics of Cerrado and Atlantic Forest, respectively. Over these ten years in the study area, 142 species were considered regular and the remaining was classified as occasional or rare. In addition, at least 40 species are migratory. A total of 156 (50.6%) birds distributed among forest and grasslands species were found in the Eucalyptus plantations attesting that both can use this type of environment, according to the height or age of Eucalyptus trees in each plot. We hope this survey will be useful for the development of environmental licensing processes and to establish new biodiversity public conservation policies.