Abstract

LEON-MATA, Daniel De et al. Wintering grasslands birds in Mexico: density and habitat relationships. Biotecnia [online]. 2020, vol.22, n.2, pp.163-170.  Epub Aug 07, 2020. ISSN 1665-1456.  https://doi.org/10.18633/biotecnia.v22i2.1258.

Bird populations in North America and in particular, grassland populations, are declining. We estimated winter density in three grassland focal species: Centronyx bairdii (BAIS), Ammodramus savannarum (GRSP) and Anthus spragueii (SPPI) and its relationship with vegetation cover between 2009 and 2011, in a grassland area of northwestern Mexico. The density averages calculated for BAIS, GRSP and SPPI were 50.8, 76.7 and 12.6 (birds / km2) respectively, are higher than previous estimations in most wintering areas in the Chihuahuan desert. The Kruskal-Wallis test shows that there are some differences in habitat use between the three species. Estimates of vegetation cover and height for each species showed some differences between years (2010 and 2011). Gregorius covariation values (C) indicate that the studied species have a significant correlation (P <0.025), with six variables of winter vegetation attributes (height and grass and grass cover, bare soil, and bush cover). The results found allow us to recognize that these birds require grassland areas in good condition, so it is necessary to establish conservation strategies that might help mitigate the alteration of the grasslands of the Chihuahuan desert.

Keywords : grasslands birds; non-breeding habitat use; non-breeding density.

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