Abstract

GUTIERREZ-PINEDA, Karol M.  and  MENDEZ-CARVAJAL, Pedro G.. Ecological diversity of birds in a fragmented habitat at the community of Rincón Largo, Chiriquí, Panama. Huitzil [online]. 2021, vol.22, n.1, e610.  Epub Oct 10, 2022. ISSN 1870-7459.  https://doi.org/10.28947/hrmo.2021.22.1.492.

Ecological diversity studies are essential to promote plans for scientific-environmental education and conservation. Previous biodiversity studies have been carried out at Chiriqui province, mainly in the highlands. The aim in this study was to evaluate the bird’s ecological diversity at the community of Rincón Largo, in a fragmented landscape with anthropogenic activity in Chiriqui’s lowlands. We categorized three observational areas: A1 (main and neighboring streets), A2 (living fences, pastures, and gallery forests), A3 (artificial lagoon). We use Ad-libitum, strip transect and observational post methods. Observations were made from January to December 2018, with a total sampling effort of 1,920 hrs. Observation resulted in 469 individuals of 91 species, 33 families, 15 orders. The alpha diversity indices showed high diversity, abundance, and richness, with fairness in families. The three observational areas do not have a significant difference in alpha diversity, H= 5.6, P= 0.06, although marginal. This outcome represents the first review of bird diversity for Rincón Largo and show the original biodiversity retention capacity in fragmented areas based on biological corridors such as living fences, gallery forests and fruit trees, crucial in conservation.

Keywords : birds; gallery forests; living fences; conservation; rural community; diversity; artificial lagoon.

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