The avifauna of the Urban Reserve of the National University of Santiago del Estero, Argentina

Abstract

The aims of this study were: (1) to determine community attributes of avifauna in the urban reserve of the Faculty of Forestry, National University of Santiago del Estero, Argentina (FCF-UNSE), (2) to evaluate its potential for conserving avifauna within the urban environment, and (3) to assess the impact of public works in the construction phase on the community attributes. Birds were surveyed both at the breeding and non-breeding season, using the traveled method. Specific richness, trophic guilds, relative importance index for each species, ordination of habitat, and beta diversity were obtained. Before the building works began, 95 species were recorded, which represents 29 % of Santiago del Estero’s avifauna. The greatest bird richness occurred at the breeding season, in the Botanical Garden and in the patches of riparian native forests (RNF). Of the 14 trophic guilds registered, the insect guild exhibited the highest number of species in both seasons. During the construction works, specific richness and beta diversity decreased in the reserve as a result of unfavorable changes for birds caused by the construction of a new paved road alongside the river bank on the RNF. It was concluded that: (1) richness and trophic guilds responded to the heterogeneity of habitats and to the characteristics of each one of them, (2) the urban reserve had potential for avifauna conservation within the urban environment, and (3) the construction phase of public works had a negative impact on avifauna.