Species richness and sampling efficiency of birds in anthropic environments inserted in the Tabuleiro Atlantic Forest

Abstract

Species richness estimates and species diversity in ecosystems is a central requirement in conservation research. This study compared the avifauna richness estimated in three anthropic environments inserted in the Tabuleiro Atlantic Forest. We used species accumulation curves and compared the effectiveness of two sampling methods of birds. A total richness of 37 species were sampled, resulting in an estimated total of 57 species for area studied. The “afforestation” environment had the highest number of species. The species accumulation curves for each environment and to the total area of the study did not reach stabilization, indicating the need for a greater sampling effort to record all species potentially present in each area. In comparing sampling methods, the census proved more efficient than mist nets. It suggested that, for the best estimate of the bird community, sampling should be performed in all types of environments present in the study area, especially in the non-altered environments. And both of sampling methods (mist nets and visual census) need to be applied considering the benefits of both in each type of environment. The census should be increased in open areas, for example, while a greater mist nets effort should be performed in dense forest environments.