Effects of physical lagoon characteristics on Chilean Flamingo (Phoenicopterus chilensis) habitat selection: Implications for management in a key South American wetland

Abstract

Understanding species habitat selection is crucial for informed conservation and management decisions, implementing measures to protect and preserve their preferred environments and developing targeted strategies that support the specific needs of the target species. In this study, we focused on the Chilean Flamingo (Phoenicopterus chilensis), an iconic species in the Lagoa do Peixe National Park (LP) in southern Brazil. Our objective was to investigate the factors that influence the foraging habitat selection of flamingos and assess the impact of artificial lagoon openings on their occupancy. We collected monthly physical and biological data of foraging areas from October 2021 to September 2022. Using generalized linear mixed models, we construct habitat selection models that linked Chilean Flamingo presence to the environmental variables collected. The results revealed that water depth, salinity, distance from the shore, and the abundance of polychaetas and vegetal fragments significantly determine the flamingos' foraging habitat selection in the lagoon. These factors are directly affected by artificial openings and the subsequent summer drought. Furthermore, we observed variations in habitat suitability during the flooded and dry seasons, leading to significant changes in the relationship between environmental variables and flamingo presence. These findings highlight the potential influence of management decisions on the presence of the species in the region. It emphasizes the urgent need for multidisciplinary decision-making groups and the establishment of short, medium, and long-term conservation goals to protect Lagoa do Peixe, safeguard the Chilean Flamingos, and assure the subsistence of local communities.