On the association of birds to bamboo stands in Southern Brazilian Atlantic Forest

Abstract

Association of birds to bamboo stands in southern brazilian Atlantic Forest, Londrina, Parana State, Brazil. Bamboo stands have been considered relatively important for a high number of bird species, specially in Amazonia. In the present study variations on the abundance of bamboo associated birds were evaluated in areas with different availability of bamboo Chusquea sp. present inside native forest in the southern portion of the Atlantic Forest, Parana State. Point counts were performed during 25 days in five transects, three in bamboo stands areas and two where this microhabitat was absent; the transects differ in the availability of bamboo. The study areas were the Mata dos Godoy State Park and an adjacent forest fragment, which together sum a total area larger than 2,000 ha, in northern Parana State, southern Brazil. Nineteen bird species were analyzed and only five of them were recorded in the transects where the bamboo was absent. Five bird species decreased significantly their abundances according the decreasing in the availability of bamboo (G-test, P < 0.01). None species had higher abundance in the transects where the bamboo was absent. Differently of Amazonia, bamboo stands in the southern portion of the Brazilian Atlantic forest are not extensive areas; actually, this type of microhabitat is more disperse throughout the understory. Even so, this microhabitat may be important for conservation of certain bird species in the Atlantic forest.