title: The influence of fire on the assemblage structure of foraging birds in grasslands of the Serra da Canastra National Park, Brazil.
abstract: Grasslands are the most threatened physiognomies of the Cerrado biome (Brazilian savanna), a biodiversity hotspot with conservation as a priority. The Serra da Canastra National Park protects the most important remnants of the Cerrado's southern grasslands, which are under strong anthropogenic pressure. The present study describes the structure of bird assemblages that directly use food resources in burned areas, comparing areas affected by natural fire to the areas where controlled fires were set (a management strategy to combat arson). The tested null hypothesis was that different bird assemblages are structured in a similar manner, regardless of the post-fire period or assessed area. Between December/2012 and January/2015, 92 species were recorded foraging in the study areas. The results indicate that both types of burnings triggered profound and immediate changes in bird assemblages, increasing the number of species and individuals. Natural fires exhibited a more significant influence on the structure (diversity and dominance) than prescribed burnings. Nevertheless, all the differences were no longer noticeable after a relatively short time interval of 2-3 months after prescribed burnings and 3-4 after natural fires. The findings may help the understanding of prescribed burnings as a management strategy for bird conservation in grasslands.
authors.affiliation: Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Recursos Naturais, Universidade Federal de São Carlos/UFSCar, Campus São Carlos, Rodovia Washington Luís, Km 235, 13565-905 São Carlos, SP, Brasil, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos SP , Brasil.|Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação de Aves Neotropicais, Departamento de Ecologia e Biologia Evolutiva, Universidade Federal de São Carlos/UFSCar, Campus São Carlos, Rodovia Washington Luís, Km 235, 13565-905 São Carlos, SP, Brasil, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Departamento de Ecologia e Biologia Evolutiva, São Carlos SP , Brasil.
authors.forename: Matheus G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Reis
authors.affiliation: Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Recursos Naturais, Universidade Federal de São Carlos/UFSCar, Campus São Carlos, Rodovia Washington Luís, Km 235, 13565-905 São Carlos, SP, Brasil, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos SP , Brasil.|Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação de Aves Neotropicais, Departamento de Ecologia e Biologia Evolutiva, Universidade Federal de São Carlos/UFSCar, Campus São Carlos, Rodovia Washington Luís, Km 235, 13565-905 São Carlos, SP, Brasil, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Departamento de Ecologia e Biologia Evolutiva, São Carlos SP , Brasil.
authors.forename: Carolline Z
authors.initials: CZ
authors.lastname: Fieker
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação de Aves Neotropicais, Departamento de Ecologia e Biologia Evolutiva, Universidade Federal de São Carlos/UFSCar, Campus São Carlos, Rodovia Washington Luís, Km 235, 13565-905 São Carlos, SP, Brasil, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Departamento de Ecologia e Biologia Evolutiva, São Carlos SP , Brasil.
authors.forename: Manoel M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Dias
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D044822:Biodiversity; D001717:Birds / Q000145:classification*; D001938:Brazil; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D017753:Ecosystem; D005390:Fires; D065948:Grassland; D000068316:Parks, Recreational; D013045:Species Specificity