A multi-scale approach reveals differential responses of birds to vegetation structure in dry forest on livestock ranches

Autores
Barzan, Flavia Romina; Bellis, Laura Marisa; Calamari, Noelia Cecilia; Canavelli, Sonia Beatriz; Dardanelli, Sebastian
Año de publicación
2025
Idioma
inglés
Tipo de recurso
artículo
Estado
versión publicada
Descripción
Dry forests are among the most threatened ecosystems globally, facing severe degradation from long-term human use. This degradation alters vegetation structure, composition, and spatial configuration, impacting biodiversity, ecosystem functions, and local livelihoods. However, its influence on birds at multiple scales remains poorly understood, limiting the effectiveness of conservation strategies. In this study, we examined how changes in vertical (local) and horizontal (landscape) vegetation structure influence bird communities and foraging height guilds (ground-, understory-, and canopy-foraging birds) in the threatened Espinal forest. We collected bird and local forest structure data from 30 livestock ranches along a gradient of grazing intensity (6 sites per ranch). We also estimated NDVI texture indices to characterize horizontal vegetation structure. Our results show that bird communities responded positively to increases in vertical and horizontal vegetation structure. Canopy cover, grass cover, and the spatial distribution of plant biomass emerged as key factors explaining bird responses. Foraging height guilds, however, responded differently from bird communities. Canopy- and ground-foraging birds were more sensitive to vertical vegetation structure, showing a positive relationship with canopy cover and a non-linear relationship with DBH, respectively. Understory-foraging birds benefited from shrub-dominated forests and were strongly related to the horizontal vegetation structure. Moreover, the responses of the bird community, canopy- and ground-foraging birds to local vegetation were modulated by biomass distribution at the landscape scale. The results highlight the importance of maintaining vegetation heterogeneity across spatial scales. Preserving old-growth trees, high grass cover, and dense vegetation patches can support bird communities in livestock-dominated dry forests.
EEA Paraná
Fil: Barzan, Flavia Romina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro de Investigación Científica y de Transferencia Tecnológica a la Producción; Argentina
Fil: Barzan, Flavia Romina. Provincia de Entre Ríos. Centro de Investigación Científica y de Transferencia Tecnológica a la Producción; Argentina
Fil: Barzan, Flavia Romina. Universidad Autónoma de Entre Ríos. Centro de Investigación Científica y de Transferencia Tecnológica a la Producción; Argentina
Fil: Barzan, Flavia Romina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina
Fil: Bellis, Laura Marisa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina
Fil: Bellis, Laura Marisa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Cordoba. Instituto de Altos Estudios Espaciales “Mario Gulich”; Argentina.
Fil: Bellis, Laura Marisa. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Altos Estudios Espaciales “Mario Gulich”; Argentina.
Fil: Calamari, Noelia Cecilia. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Paraná; Argentina
Fil: Canavelli, Sonia Beatriz. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Paraná; Argentina
Fil: Dardanelli, Sebastian. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina
Fil: Dardanelli, Sebastian. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro de Investigación Científica y de Transferencia Tecnológica a la Producción; Argentina
Fil: Dardanelli, Sebastian. Universidad Autónoma de Entre Ríos. Centro de Investigación Científica y de Transferencia Tecnológica a la Producción; Argentina
Fil: Dardanelli, Sebastian. Provincia de Entre Ríos. Centro de Investigación Científica y de Transferencia Tecnológica a la Producción; Argentina
Fuente
Biological Conservation 313 : 111554. (January 2026)
Materia
Pájaros
Bosque Seco
Vegetación
Pastoreo
Explotaciones Ganaderas
Degradación Forestal
Birds
Dry Forests
Vegetation
Grazing
Livestock Farms
Forest Degradation
Nivel de accesibilidad
acceso restringido
Condiciones de uso
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
Repositorio
INTA Digital (INTA)
Institución
Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria
OAI Identificador
oai:localhost:20.500.12123/24349
Acceder
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oai_identifier_str oai:localhost:20.500.12123/24349
network_acronym_str INTADig
repository_id_str l
network_name_str INTA Digital (INTA)
spelling A multi-scale approach reveals differential responses of birds to vegetation structure in dry forest on livestock ranchesBarzan, Flavia RominaBellis, Laura MarisaCalamari, Noelia CeciliaCanavelli, Sonia BeatrizDardanelli, SebastianPájarosBosque SecoVegetaciónPastoreoExplotaciones GanaderasDegradación ForestalBirdsDry ForestsVegetationGrazingLivestock FarmsForest DegradationDry forests are among the most threatened ecosystems globally, facing severe degradation from long-term human use. This degradation alters vegetation structure, composition, and spatial configuration, impacting biodiversity, ecosystem functions, and local livelihoods. However, its influence on birds at multiple scales remains poorly understood, limiting the effectiveness of conservation strategies. In this study, we examined how changes in vertical (local) and horizontal (landscape) vegetation structure influence bird communities and foraging height guilds (ground-, understory-, and canopy-foraging birds) in the threatened Espinal forest. We collected bird and local forest structure data from 30 livestock ranches along a gradient of grazing intensity (6 sites per ranch). We also estimated NDVI texture indices to characterize horizontal vegetation structure. Our results show that bird communities responded positively to increases in vertical and horizontal vegetation structure. Canopy cover, grass cover, and the spatial distribution of plant biomass emerged as key factors explaining bird responses. Foraging height guilds, however, responded differently from bird communities. Canopy- and ground-foraging birds were more sensitive to vertical vegetation structure, showing a positive relationship with canopy cover and a non-linear relationship with DBH, respectively. Understory-foraging birds benefited from shrub-dominated forests and were strongly related to the horizontal vegetation structure. Moreover, the responses of the bird community, canopy- and ground-foraging birds to local vegetation were modulated by biomass distribution at the landscape scale. The results highlight the importance of maintaining vegetation heterogeneity across spatial scales. Preserving old-growth trees, high grass cover, and dense vegetation patches can support bird communities in livestock-dominated dry forests.EEA ParanáFil: Barzan, Flavia Romina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro de Investigación Científica y de Transferencia Tecnológica a la Producción; ArgentinaFil: Barzan, Flavia Romina. Provincia de Entre Ríos. Centro de Investigación Científica y de Transferencia Tecnológica a la Producción; ArgentinaFil: Barzan, Flavia Romina. Universidad Autónoma de Entre Ríos. Centro de Investigación Científica y de Transferencia Tecnológica a la Producción; ArgentinaFil: Barzan, Flavia Romina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Bellis, Laura Marisa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Bellis, Laura Marisa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Cordoba. Instituto de Altos Estudios Espaciales “Mario Gulich”; Argentina.Fil: Bellis, Laura Marisa. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Altos Estudios Espaciales “Mario Gulich”; Argentina.Fil: Calamari, Noelia Cecilia. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Paraná; ArgentinaFil: Canavelli, Sonia Beatriz. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Paraná; ArgentinaFil: Dardanelli, Sebastian. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Dardanelli, Sebastian. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro de Investigación Científica y de Transferencia Tecnológica a la Producción; ArgentinaFil: Dardanelli, Sebastian. Universidad Autónoma de Entre Ríos. Centro de Investigación Científica y de Transferencia Tecnológica a la Producción; ArgentinaFil: Dardanelli, Sebastian. Provincia de Entre Ríos. Centro de Investigación Científica y de Transferencia Tecnológica a la Producción; ArgentinaElsevier2025-10-28T13:37:07Z2025-10-28T13:37:07Z2026-01info:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionhttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501info:ar-repo/semantics/articuloapplication/pdfhttp://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/24349https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S00063207250059190006-32071873-2917https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2025.111554Biological Conservation 313 : 111554. (January 2026)reponame:INTA Digital (INTA)instname:Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuariaenginfo:eu-repograntAgreement/INTA/PNNAT-1128053/AR./Evaluación y manejo de la biodiversidad y sus servicios ecosistémicos de interés para la producción agropecuaria.info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccesshttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)2025-11-06T09:42:59Zoai:localhost:20.500.12123/24349instacron:INTAInstitucionalhttp://repositorio.inta.gob.ar/Organismo científico-tecnológicoNo correspondehttp://repositorio.inta.gob.ar/oai/requesttripaldi.nicolas@inta.gob.arArgentinaNo correspondeNo correspondeNo correspondeopendoar:l2025-11-06 09:42:59.269INTA Digital (INTA) - Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuariafalse
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv A multi-scale approach reveals differential responses of birds to vegetation structure in dry forest on livestock ranches
title A multi-scale approach reveals differential responses of birds to vegetation structure in dry forest on livestock ranches
spellingShingle A multi-scale approach reveals differential responses of birds to vegetation structure in dry forest on livestock ranches
Barzan, Flavia Romina
Pájaros
Bosque Seco
Vegetación
Pastoreo
Explotaciones Ganaderas
Degradación Forestal
Birds
Dry Forests
Vegetation
Grazing
Livestock Farms
Forest Degradation
title_short A multi-scale approach reveals differential responses of birds to vegetation structure in dry forest on livestock ranches
title_full A multi-scale approach reveals differential responses of birds to vegetation structure in dry forest on livestock ranches
title_fullStr A multi-scale approach reveals differential responses of birds to vegetation structure in dry forest on livestock ranches
title_full_unstemmed A multi-scale approach reveals differential responses of birds to vegetation structure in dry forest on livestock ranches
title_sort A multi-scale approach reveals differential responses of birds to vegetation structure in dry forest on livestock ranches
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Barzan, Flavia Romina
Bellis, Laura Marisa
Calamari, Noelia Cecilia
Canavelli, Sonia Beatriz
Dardanelli, Sebastian
author Barzan, Flavia Romina
author_facet Barzan, Flavia Romina
Bellis, Laura Marisa
Calamari, Noelia Cecilia
Canavelli, Sonia Beatriz
Dardanelli, Sebastian
author_role author
author2 Bellis, Laura Marisa
Calamari, Noelia Cecilia
Canavelli, Sonia Beatriz
Dardanelli, Sebastian
author2_role author
author
author
author
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Pájaros
Bosque Seco
Vegetación
Pastoreo
Explotaciones Ganaderas
Degradación Forestal
Birds
Dry Forests
Vegetation
Grazing
Livestock Farms
Forest Degradation
topic Pájaros
Bosque Seco
Vegetación
Pastoreo
Explotaciones Ganaderas
Degradación Forestal
Birds
Dry Forests
Vegetation
Grazing
Livestock Farms
Forest Degradation
dc.description.none.fl_txt_mv Dry forests are among the most threatened ecosystems globally, facing severe degradation from long-term human use. This degradation alters vegetation structure, composition, and spatial configuration, impacting biodiversity, ecosystem functions, and local livelihoods. However, its influence on birds at multiple scales remains poorly understood, limiting the effectiveness of conservation strategies. In this study, we examined how changes in vertical (local) and horizontal (landscape) vegetation structure influence bird communities and foraging height guilds (ground-, understory-, and canopy-foraging birds) in the threatened Espinal forest. We collected bird and local forest structure data from 30 livestock ranches along a gradient of grazing intensity (6 sites per ranch). We also estimated NDVI texture indices to characterize horizontal vegetation structure. Our results show that bird communities responded positively to increases in vertical and horizontal vegetation structure. Canopy cover, grass cover, and the spatial distribution of plant biomass emerged as key factors explaining bird responses. Foraging height guilds, however, responded differently from bird communities. Canopy- and ground-foraging birds were more sensitive to vertical vegetation structure, showing a positive relationship with canopy cover and a non-linear relationship with DBH, respectively. Understory-foraging birds benefited from shrub-dominated forests and were strongly related to the horizontal vegetation structure. Moreover, the responses of the bird community, canopy- and ground-foraging birds to local vegetation were modulated by biomass distribution at the landscape scale. The results highlight the importance of maintaining vegetation heterogeneity across spatial scales. Preserving old-growth trees, high grass cover, and dense vegetation patches can support bird communities in livestock-dominated dry forests.
EEA Paraná
Fil: Barzan, Flavia Romina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro de Investigación Científica y de Transferencia Tecnológica a la Producción; Argentina
Fil: Barzan, Flavia Romina. Provincia de Entre Ríos. Centro de Investigación Científica y de Transferencia Tecnológica a la Producción; Argentina
Fil: Barzan, Flavia Romina. Universidad Autónoma de Entre Ríos. Centro de Investigación Científica y de Transferencia Tecnológica a la Producción; Argentina
Fil: Barzan, Flavia Romina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina
Fil: Bellis, Laura Marisa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina
Fil: Bellis, Laura Marisa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Cordoba. Instituto de Altos Estudios Espaciales “Mario Gulich”; Argentina.
Fil: Bellis, Laura Marisa. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Altos Estudios Espaciales “Mario Gulich”; Argentina.
Fil: Calamari, Noelia Cecilia. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Paraná; Argentina
Fil: Canavelli, Sonia Beatriz. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Paraná; Argentina
Fil: Dardanelli, Sebastian. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina
Fil: Dardanelli, Sebastian. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro de Investigación Científica y de Transferencia Tecnológica a la Producción; Argentina
Fil: Dardanelli, Sebastian. Universidad Autónoma de Entre Ríos. Centro de Investigación Científica y de Transferencia Tecnológica a la Producción; Argentina
Fil: Dardanelli, Sebastian. Provincia de Entre Ríos. Centro de Investigación Científica y de Transferencia Tecnológica a la Producción; Argentina
description Dry forests are among the most threatened ecosystems globally, facing severe degradation from long-term human use. This degradation alters vegetation structure, composition, and spatial configuration, impacting biodiversity, ecosystem functions, and local livelihoods. However, its influence on birds at multiple scales remains poorly understood, limiting the effectiveness of conservation strategies. In this study, we examined how changes in vertical (local) and horizontal (landscape) vegetation structure influence bird communities and foraging height guilds (ground-, understory-, and canopy-foraging birds) in the threatened Espinal forest. We collected bird and local forest structure data from 30 livestock ranches along a gradient of grazing intensity (6 sites per ranch). We also estimated NDVI texture indices to characterize horizontal vegetation structure. Our results show that bird communities responded positively to increases in vertical and horizontal vegetation structure. Canopy cover, grass cover, and the spatial distribution of plant biomass emerged as key factors explaining bird responses. Foraging height guilds, however, responded differently from bird communities. Canopy- and ground-foraging birds were more sensitive to vertical vegetation structure, showing a positive relationship with canopy cover and a non-linear relationship with DBH, respectively. Understory-foraging birds benefited from shrub-dominated forests and were strongly related to the horizontal vegetation structure. Moreover, the responses of the bird community, canopy- and ground-foraging birds to local vegetation were modulated by biomass distribution at the landscape scale. The results highlight the importance of maintaining vegetation heterogeneity across spatial scales. Preserving old-growth trees, high grass cover, and dense vegetation patches can support bird communities in livestock-dominated dry forests.
publishDate 2025
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2025-10-28T13:37:07Z
2025-10-28T13:37:07Z
2026-01
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501
info:ar-repo/semantics/articulo
format article
status_str publishedVersion
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/24349
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320725005919
0006-3207
1873-2917
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2025.111554
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/24349
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320725005919
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2025.111554
identifier_str_mv 0006-3207
1873-2917
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv eng
language eng
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repograntAgreement/INTA/PNNAT-1128053/AR./Evaluación y manejo de la biodiversidad y sus servicios ecosistémicos de interés para la producción agropecuaria.
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
eu_rights_str_mv restrictedAccess
rights_invalid_str_mv http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv application/pdf
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv Elsevier
publisher.none.fl_str_mv Elsevier
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv Biological Conservation 313 : 111554. (January 2026)
reponame:INTA Digital (INTA)
instname:Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria
reponame_str INTA Digital (INTA)
collection INTA Digital (INTA)
instname_str Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria
repository.name.fl_str_mv INTA Digital (INTA) - Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria
repository.mail.fl_str_mv tripaldi.nicolas@inta.gob.ar
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