Vivendo em uma cidade tropical de concreto: variações na diversidade e abundância em uma assembleia de psitacídeos (Aves; Psittacidae) em uma grande metrópole da Amazônia

Abstract

Different species of wildlife react in different ways to urbanization processes due to variations in the adaptive capability of each taxonomic group and the urban context in which these species exist. Little is known about the effects of urbanization on biodiversity in cities located along the tropics, a region that hosts most of the planet's biodiversity. Therefore, it is essential to conduct studies in different urban contexts, especially in regions of high biodiversity such as the Amazon. In this study, we document the spatial and temporal variations of diversity and abundance of parrots and their relationship with socio-environmental factors of the city of Manaus. Parrot audio-visual surveys were performed in 12 neighborhoods of Manaus with high variability in environmental and socioeconomic characteristics. Data were also collected on the percentage of green area and the average income of the residents of each neighborhood. We recorded 14 species of parrots, which highlights Manaus as one of the cities with the highest parrots diversity in Brazil. Most species of parrots that occupy Manaus come from forest environments, especially habitats subject to seasonal flooding. The relative abundance of the two most common parrot species was higher between September and February. The other 12 species, in contrast, did not show significant differences between the sampling months. The number of parrot species was higher in neighborhoods with a higher proportion of green area. On the other hand, the average income of neighborhood residents did not affect the diversity and abundance of parrots. Manaus hosts a diverse and representative parrot assemblage of the Amazon biome. The socioenvironmental characteristics of the neighborhoods, especially the amount of green area and human population density, affected the diversity, abundance, and composition of parrots species in the urban space of Manaus. Public administrators and city dwellers could take measures to benefit parrots, promoting greater contact of people with these animals that represent tropical birdlife. These measures include the protection of native vegetation in areas of urban expansion and the recovery of native or exotic vegetation in backyards and public spaces. Public administrators and city dwellers could take some measures such as urban tree management based on the animal-plant ecological relationship, this could benefit parrots and favor the presence of these animals in cities, to some extent minimizing the impact of urbanization on the bird population, already threatened by habitat loss. Among these suggested measures stand out the protection of native vegetation in urban expansion areas and recovery of native or exotic vegetation in backyards and public spaces.