Responses of birds to planting of Lotus tenuis pasture in the Flooding Pampas, Argentina
Manuel Agra A B , David Bilenca A and Mariano Codesido A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Grupo de Estudios sobre Biodiversidad en Agroecosistemas (GEBA), Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina and IEGEBA (UBA/CONICET), Intendente Güiraldes 2160 – Ciudad Universitaria – Pabellón II – Cuarto piso, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, C1428EGA, Argentina.
B Corresponding author. Email: manuelagra@ege.fcen.uba.ar
Emu 115(3) 270-276 https://doi.org/10.1071/MU14075
Submitted: 10 January 2014 Accepted: 6 March 2015 Published: 7 July 2015
Abstract
The Flooding Pampas is the most important livestock region of Argentina, but is a region where replacement of originally natural, perennial tussock grasses by pasture species is changing the heterogeneity of the grassland system. We evaluated the response of grassland bird assemblages of the Flooding Pampas to planting of Lotus tenuis (Lotus) pasture, which mainly modifies vegetation structure by reducing vertical heterogeneity. Species richness and abundance of birds were compared between fields of Lotus pasture and semi-natural grasslands. Avian species richness and abundance were both greater in semi-natural grassland than in Lotus pasture. When grouped by nesting habits (grassland specialists, generalists), species richness and abundance of grassland specialists was greater in semi-natural grassland, whereas richness and abundance of generalist species was greater in Lotus pasture. An indicator-species analysis showed that five grassland birds were closely linked to semi-natural grassland vegetation, with two of those species – Hudson’s Canastero (Asthenes hudsoni) and Bay-capped Wren-Spinetail (Spartonoica maluroides) – of conservation concern.1 In contrast, generalist species, such as Southern Lapwings (Vanellus chilensis) and Burrowing Owls (Athene cunicularia), were associated with Lotus pasture. Planting of Lotus pasture has negative effects on species that naturally occur in tussock grassland. Grassland management methods, such as intercropping and rotational grazing, could help reconcile the effects of livestock production and the conservation grassland bird conservation in the Flooding Pampas.
Additional keywords: agroecosystem, grassland birds, habitat management, South America.
References
AOP–SADS (2008). ‘Categorización de las Aves de Argentina Según su Estado de Conservación.’ (Aves Argentinas/Secretaría de Ambiente y Desarrollo Sostenible: Buenos Aires, Argentina.)Askins, R., Chávez-Ramírez, F., Dale, B., Haas, C., Herkert, J., Knopf, F., and Vickery, P. (2007). Conservation of grassland birds in North America: understanding ecological processes in different regions. Ornithological Monographs 64, 1–46.
Azpiroz, A. B., and Blake, J. G. (2009). Avian assemblages in altered and natural grasslands in the northern Campos of Uruguay. Condor 111, 21–35.
| Avian assemblages in altered and natural grasslands in the northern Campos of Uruguay.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Azpiroz, A. B., Isacch, J. P., Dias, R. A., Di Giacomo, A. S., Suertegaray Fontana, C., and Morales Palarea, C. (2012). Ecology and conservation of grassland birds in southeastern South America: a review. Journal of Field Ornithology 83, 217–246.
| Ecology and conservation of grassland birds in southeastern South America: a review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Benton, T., Vickery, J., and Wilson, J. (2003). Farmland biodiversity: is habitat heterogeneity the key? Trends in Ecology & Evolution 18, 182–188.
| Farmland biodiversity: is habitat heterogeneity the key?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bibby, C. J., Burgess, N., Hill, D., and Mustoe, S. (2000). ‘Bird Census Techniques.’ (Academic Press: San Diego, CA.)
Bilenca, D. N., and Miñarro, F. O. (2004). ‘Identificación de Áreas Valiosas de Pastizal en las Pampas y Campos de Argentina, Uruguay y Sur de Brasil.’ (Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina: Buenos Aires.)
Bilenca, D. N., Codesido, M., González Fischer, C. M., Pérez Carusi, L. C., Zufiaurre, E., and Abba, A. (2012). Impactos de la transformación agropecuaria sobre la biodiversidad en la provincia de Buenos Aires. Revista del Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales 14, 189–198.
BirdLife International (2012a). Asthenes hudsoni. In ‘IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.3’. (International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources: Gland, Switzerland.) Available at www.iucnredlist.org [Accessed 29 April 2015].
BirdLife International (2012b). Spartonoica maluroides. In ‘IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.3’. (International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources: Gland, Switzerland.) Available at www.iucnredlist.org [Accessed 29 April 2015].
BirdLife International (2012c). Polystictus pectoralis. In ‘IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.3’. (International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources: Gland, Switzerland.) Available at www.iucnredlist.org [Accessed 29 April 2015].
Brennan, L., and Kuvlesky, W. (2005). North American grassland birds: an unfolding crisis? Journal of Wildlife Management 69, 1–13.
| North American grassland birds: an unfolding crisis?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Cardoni, D. A., Isacch, J. P., and Iribarne, O. (2012). Effects of cattle grazing and fire on the abundance, habitat selection, and nesting success of the Bay-capped Wren-Spinetail in coastal saltmarshes of the Pampas region. Condor 114, 803–811.
| Effects of cattle grazing and fire on the abundance, habitat selection, and nesting success of the Bay-capped Wren-Spinetail in coastal saltmarshes of the Pampas region.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Cavalli, M., Baladrón, A., Isacch, J. P., Martínez, G., and Bó, S. (2014). Prey selection and food habits of breeding Burrowing Owls (Athene cunicularia) in natural and modified habitats of Argentine pampas. Emu 114, 184–188.
| Prey selection and food habits of breeding Burrowing Owls (Athene cunicularia) in natural and modified habitats of Argentine pampas.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Codesido, M., González-Fischer, C. M., and Bilenca, D. N. (2008). Asociaciones entre diferentes patrones de uso de la tierra y ensambles de aves en agroecosistemas de la región pampeana, Argentina. Ornitologia Neotropical 19, 575–585.
Codesido, M., González-Fischer, C., and Bilenca, D. (2011). Distributional changes of landbird species in agroecosystems of central Argentina. Condor 113, 266–273.
| Distributional changes of landbird species in agroecosystems of central Argentina.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Codesido, M., González-Fischer, C., and Bilenca, D. (2012). Agricultural land uses, avian nesting and rarity in the Pampas of central Argentina. Emu 112, 46–54.
| Agricultural land uses, avian nesting and rarity in the Pampas of central Argentina.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Codesido, M., González-Fischer, C., and Bilenca, D. (2013). Landbird assemblages in different agricultural landscapes: a case-study in the Pampas of central Argentina. Condor 115, 8–16.
| Landbird assemblages in different agricultural landscapes: a case-study in the Pampas of central Argentina.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Comparatore, V., Martínez, M., Vasallo, A., Barg, M., and Isacch, J. P. (1996). Abundancia y relaciones con el hábitat de aves y mamíferos en pastizales de Paspalum quadrifarium manejados con fuego (Buenos Aires, Argentina). Interciencia 21, 228–237.
Di Rienzo, J. A., Casanoves, F., Balzarini, M. G., Gonzalez, L., Tablada, M., and Robledo, C. W. (2013). InfoStat versión 2013. (Grupo InfoStat, FCA, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba: Argentina.) Available at http://www.infostat.com.ar [Verified 25 May 2015].
Dufrêne, M., and Legendre, P. (1997). Species assemblages and indicator species: the need for a flexible asymmetrical approach. Ecological Monographs 67, 345–366.
Entio, L., and Mujica, M. (2011). Resiembra natural en Lotus tenuis implantado con diferentes sistemas de siembra. Agrociencia 45, 431–441.
Herrera, L. P., Laterra, P., Maceira, N., Zelaya, K., and Martínez, G. (2009). Fragmentation status of tall-tussock grassland relicts in the flooding Pampas, Argentina. Rangeland Ecology and Management 62, 73–82.
| Fragmentation status of tall-tussock grassland relicts in the flooding Pampas, Argentina.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Isacch, J. P., and Cardoni, D. A. (2011). Different grazing strategies are necessary to conserve endangered grassland birds in short and tall salty grasslands of the Flooding Pampas. Condor 113, 724–734.
| Different grazing strategies are necessary to conserve endangered grassland birds in short and tall salty grasslands of the Flooding Pampas.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Isacch, J. P., and Martínez, M. (2001). Estacionalidad y relaciones con la estructura del hábitat de la comunidad de aves de pastizales de paja colorada (Paspalum quadrifarium) manejados con fuego en Buenos Aires, Argentina. Ornitologia Neotropical 12, 345–354.
Isacch, J. P., Maceira, N., Bo, S., Demaría, M., and Peluc, S. (2005). Bird-habitat relationship in semiarid natural grasslands and exotic pastures in the west pampas of Argentina. Journal of Arid Environments 62, 267–283.
| Bird-habitat relationship in semiarid natural grasslands and exotic pastures in the west pampas of Argentina.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
International Union for Conservation of Nature (2014). ‘IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.3’. (International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources: Gland, Switzerland.) Available at http://www.iucnredlist.org [Verified 9 April 2015].
Jacobo, E. J., Rodríguez, A., Bartoloni, N., and Deregibus, V. A. (2006). Rotational grazing effects on rangeland vegetation at a farm scale. Rangeland Ecology and Management 59, 249–257.
| Rotational grazing effects on rangeland vegetation at a farm scale.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Matteucci, S., and Colma, A. (1982). ‘Metodología para el Estudio de la Vegetación.’ (Organización de Estados Americanos: Washington, DC.)
McCune, B., and Mefford, M. (1999). ‘PC-ORD for Windows. Multivariate Analysis of Ecological Data. Version 4.01.’ (MjM Software Design: Gleneden Beach, USA.)
Murphy, M. T. (2003). Avian population trends within the evolving agricultural landscape of eastern and central United States. Auk 120, 20–34.
| Avian population trends within the evolving agricultural landscape of eastern and central United States.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Perelman, S. B., Burkart, S. E., and León, R. J. C. (2003). The role of a native tussock grass (Paspalum quadrifarium Lam.) in structuring plant communities in the Flooding Pampa grasslands, Argentina. Biodiversity and Conservation 12, 225–238.
| The role of a native tussock grass (Paspalum quadrifarium Lam.) in structuring plant communities in the Flooding Pampa grasslands, Argentina.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Robinson, R. A., and Sutherland, W. J. (2002). Post-war changes in arable farming and biodiversity in Great Britain. Journal of Applied Ecology 39, 157–176.
| Post-war changes in arable farming and biodiversity in Great Britain.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Rodríguez, A., and Jacobo, E. (2010). Glyphosate effects on floristic composition and species diversity in the Flooding Pampa grassland (Argentina). Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 138, 222–231.
| Glyphosate effects on floristic composition and species diversity in the Flooding Pampa grassland (Argentina).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Rodríguez, A., and Jacobo, E. (2012). ‘Manejo de Pastizales Naturales para una Ganadería Sustentable en la Pampa Deprimida.’ (Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina/Aves Argentinas: Buenos Aires, Argentina.)
Sala, O. E., Oesterheld, M., León, R. J., and Soriano, A. (1986). Grazing effects upon plant community structure in subhumid grasslands of Argentina. Vegetatio 67, 27–32.
Soriano, A. (1991). Río de la Plata grasslands. In ‘Ecosystmes of the World. Vol. 8A. Natural Grasslands: Introduction and Western Hemisphere’. (Ed. R. T. Coupland.) pp. 367–407. (Elsevier: Amsterdam, Netherlands.)
Temple, S., Brick, M., Paine, L., Undersander, D., and Sample, D. (1999). Nesting birds and grazing cattle: accommodating both on Midwestern pastures. Studies in Avian Biology 19, 196–202.
Vickery, P., Tubaro, P., Cardoso Da Silva, J., Peterjohn, B., Herkert, J., and Cavalcanti, R. (1999). Conservation of grassland birds in the western hemisphere. Studies in Avian Biology 19, 2–26.
Zar, J. H. (1999). ‘Biostatistical Analysis.’ (Prentice-Hall: Englewood Cliff, NJ.)