Abstract

CORDOVA-AVALOS, A et al. Development of an avifaunistic index of biological integrity for two plant associations of the Pantanos de Centla Biosphere Reserve, Tabasco. Universidad y ciencia [online]. 2009, vol.25, n.1, pp.1-22. ISSN 0186-2979.

The conservation status of Pantanos de Centla was evaluated by means of an index of biological integrity, using birds as the indicator group. Mangrove and poplar-cattail sites under different degrees of disturbance were selected. The historical record of birds in the Reserve includes 328 bird species, of which 57.6% were detected in this study. The index values for ZONE 1 (mangrove) varied between 51.2 and 80.5 for disturbed and conserved areas, respectively. The values for ZONE 2 (mangrove) varied from 59.3 to 80.5, and in ZONE 3 (poplar-cattail), they varied from 47.9 to 71.3. The Pearson coefficient indicated that the index variables that best correlated to a disturbance gradient were the generalist birds (G, p < 0.1), the invasive birds (EXO, p < 0.3), and the fish-eating birds (PMZI, p < 0.5). A significant lineal relationship (r² = 0. 73, p < 0.05) was estimated between the IBI and the disturbance gradient. The index values showed that birds are biological indicators of ecosystem health. The areas most impacted by anthropogenic activities exhibited vulnerability favouring tolerant species, whereas the less impacted areas presented a high level of integrity registering the highest number of species associated with mature vegetation.

Keywords : Biological integrity; disturbance; birds; mangrove; poplar; cattail.

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