Macro and micro-habitat selection by Vanellus chilensis (aves: charadriiformes) in southern Brazil

Abstract

The Southern Lapwing (Vanellus chilensis) is a typical bird from southern Brazil, but it is widely distributed across South America. It is well-recognized by its characteristic colors, imposing vocalization and aggressive behavior. The species inhabits grasslands, which can vary locally and regionally. The aim of this study is to evaluate how Southern Lapwings select their macro- and micro-habitats, which is necessary to better understand the species’ ecology, its relationship with the environment and the complex interaction between behavior and territory. This research intends to verify if there is any kind of selection for a specific environment and which factors influence the choice of feeding and breeding territories. Fieldwork was carried out at 40 ha in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, with 60 sampling points divided across six different vegetal formations. For macro-habitats, we analyzed data on availability and use of the area through the selection index, while for micro-habitat selection we constructed Generalized Linear Models (GLM) with the measures of environmental variables for each point. The selection index indicates that there is a strong preference for impacted grasslands, while lapwings seem to avoid forests and shrubland during both breeding and non-breeding seasons. The micro-habitat analysis indicates that the birds generally select areas with low vegetation height, and a certain degree of local human impact, but that the presence of farm animals is only preferred during the non-breeding season. This study shows...