Abstract

MOLINA, David; TORRES-GUERRERO, Jaime  and  AVELARDE-GOMEZ, María de la Luz. Bird richness of the Natural Protected Area Estero El Salado, Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico. Huitzil [online]. 2012, vol.13, n.1, pp.22-33. ISSN 1870-7459.

El Salado mangrove-system was decreed an Ecological Conservation Zone in 2000. It is a 235 ha Natural Protected Area located in an urbanized area; however, it shows an ecological integrity sufficiently conserved holding endangered species. Knowledge about birds in El Salado is limited to waterbirds and to the checklist presented in its Management Plan. From 2002 to 2009 non-systematic samplings were done to update the bird species checklist. In this research, we carried out monthly transect surveys to assess bird species richness from July to December, 2010. We recorded 131 bird species, of which 52 were new species records in the area. This increased the total species richness to 160. Out of the 108 species previously recorded in 2007, 29 were not seen during this research, mostly waterbirds. Recorded species richness is higher than in other wetlands of the Bahia de Banderas; in addition, protection of the area has lead to restoration. Locally, it represents an "island" in an urban landscape and a wildlife attractor. Habitat diversity has favoured the use of the area by several guilds of birds.

Keywords : wetlands; conservation; species richness.