Avifauna of the Serra Das Lontras–Javi Montane Complex, Bahia, Brazil
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Cotinga 24 Avifauna of the Serra das Lontras–Javi montane complex, Bahia, Brazil Luís Fábio Silveira, Pedro Ferreira Develey, José Fernando Pacheco and Bret M.Whitney Cotinga 24 (2005): 45–54 As regiões montanhosas costeiras do sul do estado da Bahia, Brasil, nunca foram objeto de maiores estudos ornitológicos até o início da década passada. A descoberta de uma comunidade única de aves nestas montanhas tem atraído a atenção de diversos pesquisadores, e novas espécies foram descritas ou redescobertas nestas serras litorâneas. Apesar de serem extremamente interessantes do ponto de vista biogeográfico, estas áreas são ainda muito pouco conhecidas e sofrem uma constante pressão antrópica. Dados sobre a avifauna das Serras das Lontras e do Javi foram obtidos em visitas esporádicas desde 1988, e uma visita mais longa foi realizada entre janeiro e fevereiro de 2001. Duas localidades em cada uma das serras foram amostradas e 295 espécies de aves foram registradas. Entre estas, dez espécies são enquadradas na categoria de ameaçadas, nove são vulneráveis e outras dez são consideradas como quase-ameaçadas. Nestas serras também ocorrem outras duas espécies ainda não descritas de Suboscines. A criação de Unidades de Conservação que possam proteger adequadamente esta importante e ainda razoavelmente bem preservada área de Floresta Atlântica é recomendada. The Atlantic Forest harbours a rich and diverse present study were to gather all available bird community of c.700 species, 200 of which are information concerning the avifauna of the Serra endemic to this biome and, of these, 140 are das Lontras–Javi complex, based on our own passerines7,21. In Brazil, the Atlantic Forest region research and data from colleagues, and to aid and its subtypes originally extended from the coast conservation strategies to be implemented by of Rio Grande do Norte south to northern Rio BirdLife International in collaboration with other Grande do Sul, in southernmost Brazil. conservation bodies. In addition, a feasibility study As early as the dawn of the 19th century, the was conducted by the Instituto de Estudos Sócio- prominent Austrian ornithologists Wied and Spix ambientais do Sul da Bahia (IESB), the first result initiated research in the north-east Atlantic Forest, of which was the purchase, in 2003, of 460 ha by in southern Bahia, yet even today this vast state is IESB and BirdLife, to create a private nature poorly known ornithologically. The few subsequent reserve (RPPN). Following this, a project to produce inventories of lowland localities have, for the most organic cacao in farms surrounding the reserve is part, never been published. The montane ranges of being implemented. Such environmental friendly interior southern Bahia were virtually unknown land use will create a buffer around the protected until Gonzaga et al.10 documented the avifauna of the Serra de Ouricana, near Boa Nova, highlighting the importance and singularity of the area. Since then, new species have been described or rediscov- ered from this and other upland areas of southern Bahia9,17, and one centred in the lowlands18. Indeed, Bahia is one of the most complex and diverse states in Brazil with respect to its avifauna16, harbouring two areas of endemism for passerines, central Bahia and coastal Bahia21. The Serra das Lontras and Serra do Javi have an altitudinal gradient ranging from sea level to more than 1,000 m, c.35 km inland of the southern Bahian coast (Fig. 1). These areas have received little attention from the conservation community, which has concentrated its efforts in the lowlands, Figure 1. Map of southern Bahia showing forest remnants and where some federal reserves and national parks sampled localities (see text for coordinates): red stars = already exist (e.g. the Reserva Biológica de Una, Serra das Lontras; black stars = Serra do Javi, from left to Parque Nacional do Monte Pascoal, Estação right: Fazenda Elza, Fazenda Orion, Fazenda Palmeiras and Veracruz and Parque Nacional do Descobrimento), 18 Fazenda Monte Sião.The shaded area is the Reserva Biológica despite the call for action by Pacheco et al. de Una, in the lowlands. Black line = BR 101 highway. Scale: 1 following their discovery of Acrobatornis fonsecai cm = 50 km. almost a decade ago. The principal objectives of the 45 Cotinga 24 Avifauna of the Serra das Lontras–Javi montane complex, Bahia, Brazil area, and may provide a sustainable income for the canopy is thinned (or, increasingly, introduced tree reserve’s management in coming years. species planted) to provide optimal sunlight and shade, were the most important assets to colonists. Material and methods However, due to the recent epidemic of vassoura da The region was first visited, in February 1988, by bruxa (Witch’s Broom Fungus), in concert with BMW. Visits in 1994 and 1995 by JFP and BMW, falling cocoa prices on the global market, several with Paulo Sérgio M. da Fonseca, Claudia Bauer large properties have been abandoned. As a result and Robert H. Barth, formed the basis for a of centuries of exploitation, the region has been working knowledge of the avifauna of these serras, heavily degraded and today consists of a mosaic of from the surrounding lowlands to near their cabrucas, second growth, plantations and pastures; highest elevations, and a further visit by BMW and almost no intact native forest remains below c.550 LFS, which covered the complete elevational range, m. Descriptions of the surveyed localities follow in 1999, augmented earlier data. With support from Araújo & Santos2. BirdLife International, more intensive surveys were conducted by LFS and PFD in Serra do Javi January–February 2001, with the objective of Fazenda Palmeiras (15o11’S 39o20’W): at 400–800 m recording all species at selected sites. Sites to cabrucas and rubber trees predominate, with a inventory were chosen based on available maps and manioc plantation near a small house, all the previous experience of the Instituto de Estudos surrounded by second growth. Most natural Sócio-ambientais do Sul da Bahia (IESB) in the vegetation has been lost, with the best forested region. Criteria for site selection included forest patches above 700 m, where several large trees state, altitude (above 400 m) and accessibility (taller than 30 m) with abundant epiphytes, mostly (roads, trails, etc.). Commencing with the first large bromeliads, persist. Understorey is sparse, visits, birds were identified and tape-recorded and lacks bamboo. Higher, above 900 m, forest using Sony TCD-D10 Pro II DAT and TCM-5000 structure changes dramatically: trees are stunted cassette tape-recorders and Sennheiser ME80, (10–15 m high) and covered with small bromeliads ME66 and ME67 microphones. Copies of most of and heavy bryophyte and lichen growth. recordings have been deposited at the Arquivo Understorey is dense and dominated by Geonoma Sonoro Elias Coelho (ASEC, Universidade Federal palms and bamboo (Chusquea spp.). Once common, do Rio de Janeiro, RJ). GPS readings were taken for heart-of-palm Euterpe edulis trees have been each sampled locality. Several specimens were intensively harvested throughout, and large collected and deposited at the Museu de Zoologia da individuals are now extremely rare. Universidade de São Paulo (MZUSP). Fazenda Monte Sião (15o10’S 39o18’W), During the 2001 survey, observations were 400–800 m: among inventoried sites in the Serra do conducted from 06h00 to c.20h00, and twice (once Javi, this was the best conserved. There are large each in Serra do Javi and Serra das Lontras) we trees (c.40 m high), with many bromeliads and a extended observations until 01h00 to record dense understorey with much bamboo (Merostachys nocturnal species. We conducted c.400 hours of field spp.). Forest is surrounded by second growth at observations. Birds were classified according to various stages of regeneration. their global threat level3. Reports from other 4,13 authors are also included here. Serra das Lontras Fazenda Orion (15o11’S 39o23’W), 550–900 m: Characterisation of the sampled localities consists of forest in good condition, second growth Based on the classification of Ab’Saber1, the study and cabrucas. Although selectively logged, large region lies in the Atlantic Tropical Forest Domain, trees (c.40 m high) still occur and forest is generally which encompasses the area paralleling the coast better preserved than in Serra do Javi. Epiphytes, between the states of Rio Grande do Norte and Rio mostly Cyclanthaceae and Araceae, are abundant, Grande do Sul. Predominant vegetation is along with varied bromeliad species. Above 800 m evergreen Atlantic tropical rainforest11. The areas forest becomes stunted and structure is similar to sampled pertain to the montane complex of Serra that in Serra do Javi. Understorey is dominated by das Lontras and Serra do Javi, which parallels the a species of Marantaceae (‘caeté’). There is much BR 101 highway, near the municipality of Arataca, bamboo (Merostachys spp.), and in the second with elevations ranging from 400 m to the crests of growth another genus of bamboo is found (Guadua ridges at nearly 1,000 m, and occupying an area of spp.). Some large heart-of-palm trees persist. c.300 ha. Fazenda Elza (15o12’S 39o24’W), 600–750 m: The region has been subject to continual human within this property there are large areas of altered influence for more than 250 years. Timber and habitat, with extensive areas of the second growth cocoa, the latter imported from Amazonia and and cabrucas, and few forested areas. The largest planted under the cabruca system whereby natural forest patch is in the highest part (above 800 m). 46 Cotinga 24 Avifauna of the Serra das Lontras–Javi montane complex, Bahia, Brazil Table 1. Globally threatened bird species found in the Serra and understorey mixed-species flocks15.In das Lontras–Javi complex, Bahia, Brazil. EN: Endangered; V: fragmented areas in the Amazon, Stotz22 observed Vulnerable; NT: Near Threatened.