COMPOSIÇÃO TAXONÔMICA DA AVIFAUNA COMO INDICADORA DE REGENERAÇÃO EM UMA ÁREA DE CERRADO DEGRADADO EM TRÊS LAGOAS, MS

Abstract

Birds are bioindicators of degraded areas due to their easy access; however, few studies evaluate this parameter in Cerrado areas. Therefore, we analyzed the role of avifauna in indicating ecological restoration by associating its taxonomic composition with a regenerating Cerrado area and comparing it with preserved local Cerrado phytophysiognomies (cerradão, cerrado stricto sensu, várzea, and riparian forest) during dry and rainy seasons. The avifauna composition in the recovering Cerrado at the beginning of the regeneration process showed high similarity to the várzea, due to structural similarities, while the other phytophysiognomies remained dissimilar to these two environments. After 12 years, the previously degraded Cerrado shows signs of regeneration, evidenced by the divergence in the taxonomic composition of the avifauna in the recovering Cerrado compared to open areas and greater similarity to more forested environments, although it has not yet reached its climax.