Bird diversity in the Serra do Aracá region, northwestern Brazilian Amazon: preliminary check-list with considerations on biogeography and conservation

Sérgio Henrique Borges,Andrew Whittaker,Ricardo Afonso Machado De Almeida

doi:10.1590/s1984-46702014000400006

Abstract

We inventoried the birds from Serra do Aracá region, state of Amazonas. The region encompasses a high diversity of vegetation types, including white sand forests and campinas, terra firme and flooded forests, montane forests and tepuis. We recorded 416 bird taxa in 69 families through captures with mist nets, tape recording of bird voices, and collection of voucher specimens. A large proportion of them (61%) were recorded in a single vegetation type. Qualitative estimates suggest that approximately 580 bird species occur in the region. The avifauna of the Aracá region has a mixed biogeographic composition, with species typical of both margins of the Rio Negro occurring sympatrically. Additionally, species whose distributions are restricted to three areas of endemism for Amazonian birds (Imeri, Guiana and Pantepui) were recorded in the region. Rare landscapes in the Brazilian Amazon are found in the Serra do Aracá region. Additionally, we recorded endemic and rare birds, highlighting the value of the region for conservation. The Serra do Aracá State Park officially protects montane forests, terra firme forests and tepuis. We suggest that the large extension of white sand campinas and igapó forests at the southern portion of Serra do Aracá should be also preserved in order to improve the representation of the rich natural heritage of the region.

Highlights

The biogeographic distribution of the Amazonian avifauna is complex, and includes geographic gradients of species diversity and the influence of rivers in the delimitation of areas of endemism (CRACRAFT 1985, HAFFER 1992, RAHBEK & GRAVES 2001, SILVA et al 2005, COHN-HAFT et al 2007a, b)
We provide a preliminary check-list of the birds from the Serra do Aracá region, which is located in the Rio Negro/ Rio Branco interfluve, Northwestern Brazilian Amazon
We described the geographic distributions of individual bird species in the following categories: 1) monotypic or polytic species with widespread distribution in the Amazon, especially in the northern portion of the basin; 2) taxa whose distribution includes the left margin of the Rio Negro, including the Guianas and both margins of the Rio Branco

Summary

Introduction

The biogeographic distribution of the Amazonian avifauna is complex, and includes geographic gradients of species diversity and the influence of rivers in the delimitation of areas of endemism (CRACRAFT 1985, HAFFER 1992, RAHBEK & GRAVES 2001, SILVA et al 2005, COHN-HAFT et al 2007a, b). The major geographic patterns of bird distribution in Amazonia have been identified since the late 1960’s (HAFFER 1969, 1974), recent studies have documented new areas of endemism, areas of biogeographic transition and large scale turnover of species composition in flooded forests (COHN-HAFT et al 2007b, NAKA 2011, BORGES & SILVA 2012). The avifauna of the region located between the Branco and Negro rivers in the state of Amazonas, for example, remains poorly studied despite recent inventories (NAKA et al 2006, NAKA et al 2007) This region includes rare ecosystems of the Amazon such as white sand campinas, montane forests and tepuis (PRANCE & JOHNSON 1992, SANTOS et al 1993). We consider the effectivennes of the Serra do Aracá State Park to protect a representative sample of the regional diversity of bird species and environments

Methods

Results

Conclusion