Avifauna in commercial agroforestry monocultures in Huimanguillo, Tabasco, Mexico

Abstract

The southeast of Mexico has undergone a great landscape transformation, partly due to the presence of forest harvesting systems. We describe bird communities in eucalyptus and rubber tree monocultures in Huimanguillo, Tabasco, and evaluate the structural influence of these monocultures on bird communities. We sampled 118 bird count points (with 6 replicates) and established vegetation plots for assessment. Across the 708 survey points, 4,699 individuals of 148 bird species were observed. The highest richness and abundance of birds were found in eucalyptus. The ANOSIM showed significant differences between rubber tree and eucalyptus sites. SIMPER analysis indicated that Psilorhinus morio and Eupsittula nana contributed the highest percentages of dissimilarity. The vegetation structure differed statistically between sites, particularly regarding tree variables within plantations compared to their surrounding matrices. Generalized linear models (GLM) indicated that bird diversity is influenced by understory structure and plantation type. In Huimanguillo, eucalyptus monocultures support a richer bird community than the rubber tree one. The eucalyptus seems to play a vital role as a winter habitat for migratory birds in this region. The presence of understory in agroforestry systems is an essential element for birds in landscapes dominated by anthropic activities.