Efeito do fogo na abundância de Culicivora caudacuta (Aves: Tyrannidae) em áreas campestres da fazenda Nova Monte Carmelo (MG).

Abstract

Fire is an important ecological factor in many ecosystems, especially in tropical savannah, where it is a common and natural phenomenon, being one of the responsible for the richness of habitats and characteristics in the physiognomies found in the savanna. In general, for birds, studies indicate a low adult mortality due to fire. However, some species of birds seem to be favored by the burned vegetation. Thus, the study of fire responses among multiple species can provide a greater understanding of the importance of fire in the structuring of fauna and the general response among species. The objective of this study was to monitor the effect of fire on the abundance of Culicivora caudacuta in rural areas, suggesting strategies of conservation of the species. The present work was carried out at Nova Monte Carmelo Farm (MG), belonging to Duratex SA. ha, of which the majority with plantations of Eucalyptus sp. and Pinus sp. Three transects were selected and monitored since August 2014, where the data for the analysis of the Peak Index of Abundance (IPA) of C. caudacuta were collected. In order to analyze the effect of fire on IPA, we used the same transects mentioned above, two of which were reached by unplanned fires in July / 2015 and August / 2016, and the other one not reached was taken as control. The abundance data, one year before the fire action (jul / 2015 - jun./2016) and one year after the fire action (jul / 2016 - aug / 2017) were compared in order to analyze possible differences in the IPA. Between July / 2015 and August / 2017, 74 field visits were made, totaling approximately 120 observation hours in which 31 records of C. caudacuta were obtained in the two burned transects and 111 records in the control transect. All records on the burned transects were made before the fire action. The effect of the fire was evident, because one year after the burning, C. caudacuta was not registered in the burned places and continued being recorded in the control transect. Insectivorous species are the most negatively affected after fire action, since fire can decrease the quality of the environment as well as feeding opportunities for these species that rely on vegetation to land and forage. Endangered birds tend to be more restricted to the habitat, being less able to survive in altered environments, which makes them more susceptible to the destruction of their environment. Thus, it can be considered that C. caudacuta requires conservation priority due to the rapid population decline caused by the continuous degradation and destruction of its habitat.