Ecomorphology and functional diversity of generalist and specialist bird assemblages in Amazonian whitesand ecosystem habitat patches / Ecomorfologia e diversidade funcional de assembleias de aves generalistas e especialistas em manchas de habitat de ecossistema de areia branca na Amazônia

Birds that inhabit white-sand ecosystems (WSE) in the Amazon are adapted to habitats distributed as isolated patches. These environments occur in sandy soils that are extremely poor in nutrients, have low floristic diversity and support bird assemblages restricted to WSE. We investigated whether bird species specialized in WSE have morphological or ecological traits that distinguish them from generalist birds that share the same habitat but are not restricted to WSE. We collected morphological and ecological data from 22 specialist and 102 generalist bird species from WSE and described their ecomorphological diversity using multivariate analyses and measures of functional diversity. Understory insectivorous species that move alone or in pairs, were the group with the most species among specialist birds from WSE. In contrast, canopy frugivorous species that form mono- or heterospecific groups were more frequent among generalist species. Specialist and generalist birds overlapped extensively in ecomorphological space, with specialists occupying a narrower space compared to generalists. Functional diversity, however, was not different between specialist and generalist species when controlling for the number of species within the communities. Further studies comparing the ecomorphological diversity of bird assemblages of other environments in the Amazon may highlight the ecological pressures leading to the functional diversity of specialist species in WSE observed in this study.(AU)

As aves que habitam os ecossistemas de areia branca (EAB) na Amazônia estão adaptadas a habitats distribuídos em manchas isoladas. Esses ambientes ocorrem em solos arenosos extremamente pobres em nutrientes, possuem baixa diversidade florística e suportam assembleias de aves restritas a EAB. Investigamos se espécies de aves especializadas em EAB possuem características morfológicas ou ecológicas que as distinguem de aves generalistas que compartilham o mesmo habitat, mas não estão restritas a EAB. Coletamos dados morfológicos e ecológicos de 22 espécies de aves especialistas e 102 generalistas de EAB, e descrevemos sua diversidade ecomorfológica usando análises multivariadas e medidas de diversidade funcional. Espécies insetívoras do sub-bosque que se movem solitárias ou em pares foram o grupo com maior número de espécies dentro das aves especialistas da EAB. Em contraste, espécies frugívoras de dossel que formam grupos mono ou heteroespecíficos foram mais frequentes entre as espécies generalistas. Aves especialistas e generalistas sobrepuseram-se extensivamente no espaço ecomorfológico, com especialistas ocupando um espaço mais estreito em comparação com generalistas. A diversidade funcional, no entanto, não foi diferente entre espécies especialistas e generalistas ao controlar o número de espécies dentro das comunidades. Estudos futuros comparando a diversidade ecomorfológica de assembleias de aves de outros ambientes na Amazônia podem destacar as pressões ecológicas que levam à diversidade funcional de espécies especialistas em EAB observadas neste estudo.(AU)

Bird diversity in the Serra do Aracá region, northwestern Brazilian Amazon: preliminary check-list with considerations on biogeography and conservation

We inventoried the birds from Serra do Aracá region, state of Amazonas. The region encompasses a high diversity of vegetation types, including white sand forests and campinas, terra firme and flooded forests, montane forests and tepuis. We recorded 416 bird taxa in 69 families through captures with mist nets, tape recording of bird voices, and collection of voucher specimens. A large proportion of them (61%) were recorded in a single vegetation type. Qualitative estimates suggest that approximately 580 bird species occur in the region. The avifauna of the Aracá region has a mixed biogeographic composition, with species typical of both margins of the Rio Negro occurring sympatrically. Additionally, species whose distributions are restricted to three areas of endemism for Amazonian birds (Imeri, Guiana and Pantepui) were recorded in the region. Rare landscapes in the Brazilian Amazon are found in the Serra do Aracá region. Additionally, we recorded endemic and rare birds, highlighting the value of the region for conservation. The Serra do Aracá State Park officially protects montane forests, terra firme forests and tepuis. We suggest that the large extension of white sand campinas and igapó forests at the southern portion of Serra do Aracá should be also preserved in order to improve the representation of the rich natural heritage of the region.(AU)

Bird diversity in the Serra do Aracá region, northwestern Brazilian Amazon: preliminary check-list with considerations on biogeography and conservation

We inventoried the birds from Serra do Aracá region, state of Amazonas. The region encompasses a high diversity of vegetation types, including white sand forests and campinas, terra firme and flooded forests, montane forests and tepuis. We recorded 416 bird taxa in 69 families through captures with mist nets, tape recording of bird voices, and collection of voucher specimens. A large proportion of them (61%) were recorded in a single vegetation type. Qualitative estimates suggest that approximately 580 bird species occur in the region. The avifauna of the Aracá region has a mixed biogeographic composition, with species typical of both margins of the Rio Negro occurring sympatrically. Additionally, species whose distributions are restricted to three areas of endemism for Amazonian birds (Imeri, Guiana and Pantepui) were recorded in the region. Rare landscapes in the Brazilian Amazon are found in the Serra do Aracá region. Additionally, we recorded endemic and rare birds, highlighting the value of the region for conservation. The Serra do Aracá State Park officially protects montane forests, terra firme forests and tepuis. We suggest that the large extension of white sand campinas and igapó forests at the southern portion of Serra do Aracá should be also preserved in order to improve the representation of the rich natural heritage of the region.

A importância do ensino de pós-graduação na formação de recursos humanos para o estudo da biodiversidade no Brasil: um estudo de caso na ornitologia / The relevance of graduate teachings in the formation of human resources for biodiversity studies in Brazil: a case study in ornithology

Entre 1970 e 2005 foram produzidas 397 dissertações de mestrado e 108 teses de doutorado com temas ornitológicos em 43 instituições brasileiras. A maioria dos estudos foi produzida em instituições localizadas na região sudeste. Instituições do norte e nordeste contribuíram com um número relativamente baixo de estudos ornitológicos. As avifaunas dos biomas Costeiro e Marinho, a Mata Atlântica e o Cerrado foram as mais bem estudadas, enquanto um baixo número de pesquisas foi realizado na Caatinga e na Amazônia. Desde 1990 foi observado um expressivo aumento na produção científica de estudos ornitológicos nos cursos de pós-graduação do Brasil. A diversidade temática dos estudos também se ampliou ao longo dos anos, mas ainda é dominada por estudos de comunidade, comportamento e sinecologia. Temas emergentes como sistemática molecular, macroecologia e ecologia de paisagens já começam a ser explorados nos cursos de pós-graduação. A ampliação dos programas de pós-graduação e a contínua diversificação temática dos estudos ornitológicos são os desafios para os cursos destes programas no Brasil nos próximos anos.

Between 1970 and 2005, 397 master's thesis and 108 PhD dissertations with ornithological themes were recorded from 43 Brazilian institutions. Most of these studies were produced in research institutions in Southwestern Brazil. Institutions in the North and Northeastern regions contributed with a relatively low number of ornithological studies. Avifauna was best studied from Coastal and Marine biomes, Atlantic Forest and Cerrado, while research on birds in Caatinga and Amazonia was relatively scarce. Since 1990, were observed a significant increase in scientific production of ornithological studies in graduate courses. The thematic diversity of the courses also increased, but ornithological research in graduate courses is still dominated by community, behavior and synecological studies. Emergent research programs such as molecular systematics, macroecology and landscape ecology have been recently explored in graduate courses in Brazilian institutions. Increasing graduate programs and continuing the thematic diversification of ornithological studies are the challenges that will be faced by Brazilian graduate programs in the next coming years.