Abstract

VAZQUEZ-REYES, Leopoldo D. et al. Birds in the Alto Balsas of Guerrero: diversity and ecological identity of a priority conservation area. Rev. Mex. Biodiv. [online]. 2018, vol.89, n.3, pp.873-897. ISSN 2007-8706.  https://doi.org/10.22201/ib.20078706e.2018.3.2314.

The Alto Balsas region is important for Mexican biodiversity due to the high levels of taxonomic turnover and richness of endemism. Unfortunately, habitat loss owing to human activities threats its conservation. The goal of this contribution is to describe the birds biodiversity in the Alto Balsas region in Guerrero, using species incidence data in seven habitat-types between 2006 and 2017. A total of 209 bird species was recorded, 53 of which represent effective taxonomic turnover (mean βsim 0.41 ± 0.28) between habitats. Fifty-eight species (27.7%) have some level of endemism, representing one of the most evolutionarily Mexican bird assemblages recorded. Twenty-five species (12%) are threatened, highlighting the military macaw (Ara militaris), a globally threatened bird. Both evolutionary history and the ecological gradient defined high taxonomic turnover rates, a complex functional identity, as well as biogeographic connectivity. Considering this aspects, and involving territorial surface, the Alto Balsas in Guerrero meets the criteria for its inclusion in the National System of Natural Protected Areas.

Keywords : Biodiversity; Tropical dry forest; Beta diversity; Ecological function; Endemics; IBA; Species turnover.

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