Space-time characterization of the avifauna in Las Hermosas Canyon, Chaparral, Tolima, Colombia

Abstract

Las Hermosas Canyon is one of the least explored regions in southwestern Tolima. Despite hosting a great diversity of fauna, the information available on the birds of this region and their interactions at the community level is scarce. Our aim was to document the avifauna of the Amoyá river basin and analyze its space-time dynamics during the period 2013-2018. Using mist nets, we observed and recorded 252 species, seven of them endemic, 22 quasi-endemic, 17 migratory, and five in danger. On a spatial scale, we detected two peaks of greater richness in the highest and lowest stations and four assemblages of birds along the gradient while temporarily we observed similarities of 43.4 to 63.5% in the composition of species between years and richness fluctuating through time. Although the Amoyá River basin is a highly intervened ecosystem, the characteristics of its avifauna justify postulating it as an important area for conservation.