Home range and habitat use of the Green-and-black Fruiteater Pipreola riefferii in fragmented montane forests of northern Perú

Mamani-Cabana N.W.; Newell F.L.; Robinson S.K.; Ausprey I.J. · Ornitologia Neotropical (2023) · DOI: 10.58843/ornneo.v34i2.1035

Resumen

Habitat fragmentation has driven many species to local extinction, mainly those with small populations. However, certain landscape features allow some species to persist despite the impact on their habitats. From 2016 to 2019, we studied the home range, habitat use, and densities of the Green-and-black Fruiteater Pipreola riefferii (estimated from point counts) in fragmented cloud forests in northern Peru. Using radio telemetry (10 individuals in 7 landscapes), we estimated that the mean home range for the Green-and-black Fruiteater based on 95% Kernel Density (KDE) was 3.72 ± 1.70 ha, and 100% Minimum Convex Polygon (MCP) was 1.85 ± 0.84 ha. The density of the Green-and-black Fruiteater in the primary forest was the same as in fragments and significantly higher than in regenerating forests or silvopastures. Density in forests and fragments was also negatively correlated with canopy cover measured through spherical densitometry. We conclude that the Green-and-black Fruiteater can persist in fragmented landscapes because it has small home ranges and is found in forests with canopy openings. We recommend maintaining regenerating forests or other successional habitats with abundant shrubs to improve population connectivity and the persistence of the Green-and-black Fruiteater in isolated forest fragments.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional de San Agustín de Arequipa