Ecology and conservation of grassland birds in southeastern South America: a review

• Autores: Azpiroz, Adrián B.; Isacch, Juan Pablo; Dias, Rafael A; Di Giacomo, Adrian Santiago; Suertegaray Fontana, Carla; Morales Palarea, Cristina
• Año de publicación: 2012
• Idioma: inglés
• Tipo de recurso: artículo
• Materia: ARGENTINA; BRAZIL; BRAZILIAN UPLAND GRASSLANDS; CAMPOS; HUMID CHACO GRASSLANDS; PAMPAS; PARAGUAY; RÍO DE LA PLATA GRASSLANDS; URUGUAY
• Institución: Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas

The grasslands of southeastern South America (SESA), comprising one of the most extensive grassland ecosystems in the Neotropics, have been negatively impacted by the development of the livestock industry, arable agriculture, and forestry. SESA grasslands have a rich avifauna that includes 22 globally threatened and near-threatened species, and many other species have suffered local population extinctions and range reductions. In addition to habitat loss and fragmentation, grassland birds in SESA are threatened by improper use of agrochemicals, unfavorable fire management regimes, pollution, and illegal capture and hunting. Studies to date have provided information about the distribution of grassland birds, the threats populations face, and the habitat requirements of some threatened species, but more information is needed concerning dispersal and migration patterns, genetics, and factors that influence habitat use and species survival in both natural and agricultural landscapes. There are few public protected areas in the region (1% of original grasslands), and many populations of threatened grassland birds are found on private lands. Therefore, efforts to preserve grassland habitat must reconcile the interests of land owners and conservationists. Current conservation efforts include establishment of public and private reserves, promotion of agricultural activities that reconcile production with biodiversity conservation, development of multilateral conservation projects across countries, and elaboration of action plans. Measures that result in significant losses to private land owners should include economic compensation, and use of economic incentives to promote agriculture and forestry in native grassland areas should be discouraged, especially in priority areas for grassland birds. Although more studies are needed, some actions, particularly habitat protection and improved management of public and private lands, should be taken immediately to improve the conservation status of grassland birds in SESA.
Fil: Azpiroz, Adrián B.. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas "Clemente Estable"; Uruguay
Fil: Isacch, Juan Pablo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; Argentina
Fil: Dias, Rafael A. Universidade Católica de Pelotas; Brasil. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; Brasil
Fil: Di Giacomo, Adrian Santiago. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires; Argentina
Fil: Suertegaray Fontana, Carla. Pontificia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul; Brasil
Fil: Morales Palarea, Cristina. Asociacion Guyra Paraguay (guyra); Paraguay