Characterization of the avifauna in the surroundings of a planted forest in the brazilian cerrado

The high demand for timber resources led to an increase of plantation forests, which currently cover a large portion of the Cerrado. Due to this, the effect and importance of eucalyptus and pine forests on bird communities has aroused great interest. We aim to characterize the avifauna in a Cerrado area surrounded by plantation forests. The survey was conducted in Nova Ponte Farm (property of Duratex S.A.) in Central Brazil. Brazilian Cerrado is the dominant phytophysiognomy in the region, but most of the land-use in the farm is eucalyptus and pinus forest. Between May 2016 and February 2017 an 8km transect was sampled weekly. Each species found by visual or sound record were classified according with their trophic guild, endemism in Brazilian Cerrado, sensibility to habitat disturbance and conservation status. We registered 154 bird species, in 20 orders and 45 families. Insectivores were the most frequent (n=53), followed by omnivorous (n=37). Six endemic species, Alipiopsitta xanthops, Herpsilochmus longirostris, Melanopareia torquata, Antilophia galeata, Cyanocorax cristatellus and Saltatricula atricollis were registered, representing about 20% of the endemic species in the Cerrado. Two species Aramide scajanea and Urubitinga coronata are considered highly sensitive to anthropogenic disturbances and three threatened species, Ara ararauna, Alipiopsitta xanthops and Urubitinga coronate, were found in the area. Forest plantations present better support for plants and animals compared to pastures and other types of monoculture, and may be important mechanisms for the conservation of biodiversity when associated with the management and preservation of natural areas in surrounding.