Suchergebnisse

While many published maps of avian species richness indicate northern Amazonia to be somewhat species-poor, recent surveys reveal that this area actually possesses one of the most species-rich avifaunas in the Neotropical lowlands. Our surveys indicate that at least 520 bird species occur in Viruá National Park (VNP) and adjacent areas, which is located in the Brazilian state of Roraima (northern Amazonia). Here, we present the results of our ornithological efforts since 2001, based on audio-visual and mistnetting surveys, vouchered by tape and digital recordings, photographs, and collected specimens. VNP is dominated by Amazonian white-sand forest (locally known as campina and campinarana) on an extensive floodplain influenced by muddy-, clear-, and blackwater rivers, forming a complex mosaic of habitats that includes várzea, igapó, and hilltop "islands" with terra-firme forest. The high avian diversity found at VNP is likely due to both biogeographic and local-scale processes. Each habitat contains a particular avian assemblage. Patches of terra-firme forest have a typical Guianan avifauna. Campina and campinarana contain unique species, including some poorly known and range-restricted (e.g., Aprositornis disjuncta), as well as species typical of the northern Roraiman savannas (e.g., Icterus nigrogularis). The várzea of the Rio Branco (with its associated river islands) is particularly species-rich, including the endemic Cercomacra carbonaria and isolated populations of white-river-island specialists (e.g., Mazaria propinqua). VNP protects important ecological ecotones and biogeographical contact zones, as well as 27 threatened and 45 migratory bird species. On the other hand, 71 species reported for our study area have been found outside the current boundaries of the park. Ongoing proposals of expanding the limits of the park would absorb most of these species. With its outstanding bird species richness and wide variety of habitats, VNP emerges as an important site for Amazonian avian research, tourism, and conservation. Despite the park's protected status, the Brazilian government plans to build a hydroelectric dam in the region, representing the main threat to its avifauna and overall biodiversity.

Since 2005, the Brazilian Ornithological Records Committee (CBRO) has published updated checklists of Brazilian birds almost every year. Herein, we present a completely new and annotated version of our checklist. For the first time, we list all bird subspecies known from Brazil that are currently accepted by at least one key ornithological reference work. The inclusion of the subspecies should be seen as a synthesis, and not as a taxonomic endorsement. As such, we include in the new checklist 1919 avian species, 910 of which are treated as polytypic in reference works (2042 subspecies), totaling 3051 taxa at the species and subspecies level. We anticipate that several of the subspecies included in our list may be subject to future taxonomic upgrades to species status, while others will probably be shown to be invalid in the light of future taxonomic studies. The results highlight Brazil as a megadiverse country and reinforce the need for proper enforcement of political tools, laws and international commitments assumed by the country to preserve its biodiversity. © 2015, Sociedade Brasileira de Ornitologia. All rights reserved.