During the winter
of 2009 grassland birds were monitored in the region of Cuchillas de la Zarca
to estimate the association betweenAmmodramus
bairdiiAudubon 1844, focal species of grassland and bird species belonging
to the trophic guild of grassland granivorous birds (n = 25 ). The study area
was divided into monitoring quadrants (n = 16) where 96 transects for bird
monitoring were conducted, recording 16,635 individuals of which only 32.9%
were in the trophic guild of grassland granivorous birds. The association
betweenA. bairdiiand other species
was estimated from the nonparametric statistical index of Kendall’s coefficient
of concordance (W) and the p value, through permutation analysis (n = 10,000),
finding positive and significant associations (p≤0.05) of the target
species for study withSturnella magna,Passerculus sandwichensisandAmmodramus savannarum, species that
share habitat preferences of natural grassland in good condition, slightly
grazed and with little tolerance to the shrub cover. The association W ranged
from 0.072 and 0.749. These results can recognize this region as an important
area for the conservation of obligate grassland birds during winter, suggesting
establish training programs to better utilize this resource by means of cattle
activity.
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