Doi: https://doi.org/10.13157/arla.69.2.2022.ra5
Authors: Tomás O’CONNOR, Germán Ó. GARCÍA and Juan Pablo ISACCH
E-mail: oconnortomas@outlook.com
Published: Volume 69.2, July 2022. Pages 249-262.
Language: English
Keywords: Agroecology, bird assemblage, buenos Aires, cherry production and pest management
Summary:
Agroecology tends to benefit biodiversity and takes advantage of some ecosystem services like natural pest control. However, when biodiversity and agricultural production conflict, it is necessary to determine the causes of losses before applying control measures. Our study aimed to evaluate bird diversity in a cherry orchard in Argentina and to analyse the fruit consumption rates of the different species. A total of 82 hours of observation on 35 3m x 3m plots were made, during which we recorded bird richness, number of individuals per species and cherry consumption per species. Plot location within the orchard, tree shape and time of day were noted at each observation point. We also counted the total number of cherries in each plot and classed them as healthy, with watermarks, attacked by fungi or damaged by birds. A total of 21 bird species were observed. Cherry consumption was higher during the morning and along the orchard edge. The proportion of cherries affected by fungi was greater than that affected by birds and water. Our findings support the idea that agroecological systems provide a refuge for many bird species with only minor costs to the producer.
