Eficácia de poleiros artificiais na restauração ambiental: análise da cobertura vegetal e da avifauna após dez anos de implementação

Abstract

Habitat fragmentation and degradation in the Cerrado compromise ecological dynamics and the maintenance of biodiversity, requiring strategies for environmental restoration. Artificial perches can be used as a nucleation technique capable of attracting disperser birds and increasing seed rain, which in turn favors natural regeneration. The present study evaluated the effectiveness of artificial perches ten years after their implementation in a Cerrado sensu stricto area in the Triângulo Mineiro region (MG), investigating the relationship between vegetation cover, estimated through the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), and bird community composition. Birds were sampled using linear transects during twelve monthly campaigns between 2024 and 2025, comparing two transects: A – artificial perches implemented/removed more than 10 years ago, and B – without the implementation of any nucleation technique. A total of 115 species distributed across 33 families were recorded, with a predominance of Passeriformes, particularly Tyrannidae and Thraupidae. Guild analysis revealed a predominance of insectivores (40,8%), followed by omnivores (22,6%) and frugivores (12,1%). The species accumulation curve did not reach stabilization, with the Chao2 estimator indicating that 87% of the local avifauna was recorded. Comparison with the previous study, considering only transect A, revealed an increase in frugivorous (5) and nectarivorous (3) species, indicating a qualitative improvement of the sampled area. When considering both transects evaluated in this study (A+B) and the previous study, the total richness of the area is 134 bird species. The NDVI showed an increase in transect A compared to 2014 values (0.286 vs. 0.244), suggesting vegetation densification associated with the presence of artificial perches. The results demonstrated that such structures played a relevant role in ecological restoration, promoting increased vegetation cover and favoring the return of specialized bird guilds. It is concluded, therefore, that artificial perches can be effective tools in nucleation processes and should be considered in environmental recovery strategies in the Cerrado of Minas Gerais.