ESTRUTURA DA COMUNIDADE DE AVES EM ÀREAS DE CERRADO NA SUB-BACIA DO RIBEIRÃO JOÃO LEITE, GOIÁS, BRASIL

Abstract

This study aims the characterization of the bird community structure of savanna areas from the middle-inferior section of the Ribeirão João Leite basin, Goiás. The avifauna data was collected every two month between August/2004 and June/2005 in 22 sampling points, which are located in the conservation unit Parque Ecológico Altamiro de Moura Pacheco and in pasture areas. The methodology used was sampling points with minimum distance of 200m between points, where the birds observed during 20 minutes were identified and counted. 5,834 specimens, distributed in 21 orders, 54 families and 184 species were catalogued. 114 represent species with forest and rural habits, 31 are strictly rural, 20 are forest and 19 of aquatic environments. The Cluster Analysis indicated the presence of two distinct groups (A and B) (p=0.008) and five subgroups (I, II, III, IV and V) (p=0.04). The group "A" and sub-group I and II corresponds to the points located in forest areas and riparian vegetation, where 174 insectivorous species (3,887 specimens) were catalogued and of which 27 are constant such as Momotus momota, Basileuterus flaveolus and Monasa nigrifons. The group "B" and sub-group III, IV and V is formed by points located in anthropic areas, where avifauna presents minor richness (111 species) and abundance (1,947 specimens) with predominance of granivorous species such as Columbina talpacoti, Patagioenas picazuro and Jacarina volatinia. These results indicate the influence of preserved areas of savanna on the avifauna structure.