Distribuição, modelagem ecológica e conservação de aves florestais, endêmicas e/ou ameaçadas de extinção na mata atlântica nordestina

Abstract

The Pernambuco Endemism Center is the sector of the Atlantic Forest situated in the states of Alagoas, Pernambuco, Paraíba, and Rio Grande do Norte. This is the most devasted area of whole dominium, with a large number of endemic, and/or threatened birds. In this study, we analyzed the geographic range and performed the modeling of forest, endemic, and/or threatened birds, in addition to check and suggest important areas for bird conservation. We also examined the current and potential range of two birds considered Critically Endangered (Leptodon forbesi and Phaethornis margarettae camargoi) by ecological niche modeling, using the algorithm of maximum entropy (Maxent). To these two taxa we analyzed all records from 1987 to 2015, the vegetation type with highest number of records and we reviewed their conservation status. Both birds of the three target groups as the two birds modeled separately had a higher concentration of records and greater suitability potential in Alagoas and Pernambuco. There was no relationship between vegetation types and distribution of the birds of the three groups, but those were more abundant in moist forests, while the drier parts of the study area showed little representation. The protected areas were well representative at set of endemic and/or endangered birds, but some important areas for bird conservation did not have any protected forest fragment. We suggested update the conservation status of L. forbesi to 'Endangered' and P. margarettae camargoi to 'Vulnerable'. Urgent conservation actions must be taken in the Pernambuco Endemism Center due to the high degree of forest fragmentation, the high number of endemic and threatened taxa and the restricted distribution area of endemics. In future plans for the creation of protected areas, it must prioritize those areas overlapped the IBA's, because of the large number of endemic and/or threatened birds.