Structure and composition of bird assemblage of two types of habitats in the IBA site Natural Reserve La Patasola, Central Andes of Colombia

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This study quantified the structure and composition of birds’ assemblages in the land covers of the inner part and the edge of a mature montane forest, using methodologies based on true diversity and sampling coverage in the Important Bird Area (IBA) site called the Natural Reserve La Patasola, located in Central Andes of Colombia. The study recorded 80 bird species with four of them in a threat category. There was no dependency of the trophic guild on the habitat type, showing that bird guilds distribute heterogeneously, also indicating the potential resource availability for every group of birds in both habitats. Alpha diversity was slightly higher for the edge of the forest; however, both communities showed similar levels of equitability and dominance even when they did not share many species. The differences in species composition were probably due to a dominant species turnover process, which is probably explained by the strong ability of birds to disperse, not being affected by barriers (as some other vertebrate groups), and to find the appropriate habitats in a region. Furthermore, it is evidence of potentially reduced risk concerning the local extinction of species, and the main value for birds’ conservation, which is an important attribute to consider in management plans for birds of sensible ecosystems in the montane forest of the Colombian Andes.