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Occurrence patterns of the endangered Yellow Cardinal Gubernatrix cristata in north-east Argentina: only in savannahs and at sites away from roads
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 02 September 2022
Summary
The endangered Yellow Cardinal Gubernatrix cristata is under pressure from habitat loss and from capturing for the cage bird trade. In north-east Argentina it is known to be associated with the Espinal ecoregion, but no information was available on habitat selection within this ecoregion. In Entre Ríos province, Argentina, we first sampled Yellow Cardinal presence in four environments: Espinal savannahs, Espinal open woodlands, riparian woodlands, and agricultural fields. Yellow Cardinals were only detected in savannahs. In a second set of surveys, transects were surveyed at sites with known presence of Yellow Cardinals and were placed within savannahs as well as nearby in open forests of only slightly different physiognomy. Yellow Cardinals were again only detected in savannahs. Tree density, shrub cover and height of herbaceous layer were lower in savannahs than in open woodlands. Ground-foraging Yellow Cardinals in savannahs foraged exclusively in grass patches with short grass of 3˗12 cm height. Such short grass occurred in 75% of spots of savannahs sites, but only in 48% of open woodlands. Savannah sites with Yellow Cardinals were significantly further away from permanent roads than sites without Cardinals, likely a reflection of capture pressure near roads. We recommend establishing additional protected areas with a high proportion of savannah patches and with limited or no road access. The short grass used by foraging Yellow Cardinals requires maintenance through grazing. Rewilding with native herbivores in protected areas is preferable to attain natural herbivory, but during the initial stages of rewilding, cattle and sheep grazing are essential to avoid tree and shrub proliferation in savannahs. The Yellow Cardinal can also persist on private lands with Espinal vegetation under sustainable livestock grazing. Frequent and effective patrolling and road controls are essential to reduce illegal capturing.
Resumen
El Cardenal Amarillo Gubernatrix cristata, en peligro de extinción, está bajo presión por la pérdida de hábitat y por la captura para el comercio de aves de jaula. En el noreste de Argentina se sabe que está asociado con la ecorregión Espinal, pero no se dispone de información sobre la selección de hábitat dentro de esta ecorregión. En la provincia de Entre Ríos, Argentina, primero muestreamos la presencia del Cardenal amarillo en cuatro ambientes: sabanas del Espinal, bosques abiertos de Espinal, bosques ribereños, y campos agrícolas. Los Cardenales amarillos solo se detectaron en las sabanas. En un segundo conjunto de muestreos, las transectas se midieron en sitios con presencia conocida de Cardenales amarillos y se colocaron dentro de sabanas, así como cerca en los bosques abiertos de fisonomía ligeramente diferente. Los Cardenales Amarillos nuevamente solo se detectaron en las sabanas. La densidad de árboles, la cobertura de arbustos y la altura del estrato herbáceo fueron menores en las sabanas que en los bosques abiertos. Los Cardenales amarillos que se alimentan en el suelo en las sabanas, se alimentan exclusivamente en parches de pasto corto de 3 a 12 cm de altura. Este pasto corto se presentó en el 75% de los sitios en sabanas, pero solo en el 48% en los bosques abiertos. Los sitios de sabana con Cardenales Amarillos se encontraban significativamente más lejos de las carreteras permanentes que los sitios sin Cardenales, probablemente un reflejo de la presión de captura cerca de los caminos. Recomendamos establecer áreas protegidas adicionales con una alta proporción de parches de sabana y con acceso por carretera limitado o nulo. El pasto corto utilizado por los Cardenales amarillos en busca de alimento requiere mantenimiento a través del pastoreo. Es preferible repoblar con herbívoros nativos en áreas protegidas para lograr la herbivoría natural, pero durante las etapas iniciales de reintroducción de ganado vacuno y ovino, el pastoreo es esencial para evitar la proliferación de árboles y arbustos en las sabanas. El Cardenal Amarillo también puede persistir en tierras privadas con vegetación de Espinal bajo pastoreo de ganado sostenible. La vigilancia y los controles viales frecuentes y efectivos son esenciales para reducir las capturas ilegales.
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- © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of BirdLife International
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