Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13157/arla.60.1.2012.99
Authors: Jorge LOZANO and Aurelio F. MALO
E-mail: j.lozano.men@gmail.com
Published: Volume 60(1), June 2013. Pages 99-112.
Language: English
Keywords: Anhinga anhinga, anthropic impact, Chauna torquata, disturbance, ecotourism, Egretta alba, Megaceryle torquata and wildlife management
Summary:
The Pantanal
region (Brazil)
is under increasing anthropic pressure partly due to an increase in tourism and
there is a lack of information about the influence of human presence on
avifauna. Here we study the relationships between human activity in the river
(boats and fishermen) and 15 bird species along a 70 km stretch of the Paraguay River, also including other confounding factors
such as distance to towns and spatial autocorrelation. Human density along the
river was low and as expected decreased with distance from towns. Bird richness
and density were negatively associated with human density and the distance to
towns along the river, suggesting a permanent impact on avifauna. Riparian
forests had higher bird density. Four species were apparently sensitive to
human presence: the anhinga Anhinga
anhinga, the great white egret Egretta
alba, the ringed kingfisher Megaceryle
torquataand the southern screamer Chauna torquata. Thus, these species
could serve as indicators of human pressure. Any management plan for
sustainable development of the study area should preserve the riparian forest, consider
the control of numbers of tourists and people in the river, and monitor the
bird community, especially the sensitive species.
