Analysis of the avifaunal richness of a fragment of medium rainforest in Tetzacual, Huejutla, Hidalgo, Mexico

Abstract

In Mexico, forests experience a significant annual loss attributed to land use change. Despite the alterations caused by human activity, these ecosystems continue to show a remarkable diversity, especially in terms of birds that depend on their resources for feeding, nesting, breeding, and shelter. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the abundance and diversity of bird species in a fragment of medium rainforest in Tetzacual, Huejutla, Hidalgo, Mexico. In addition, to analyze the variations of bird species in four seasons of the year and identify the dominant guilds in the study area, two monthly visits were carried out for 12 months (September 2020 to August 2021), from 7:00 am to 12:00 pm. Two linear kilometers were sampled using the direct visual method with binoculars for bird observation. A total of 81 species belonging to 67 genera, 31 families, and 14 orders were recorded, for a total of 583 individuals. The most diverse family was Passeriformes and the most representative families in number of species were Tyrannidae, Parulidae and Icteridae. The area presented high diversity with Simpson (1/D=0.959) and Shannon (H'=3.734) indices. The seasons with the highest species richness were summer (June to September; 49 species) and autumn (September to December; 56 species). The feeding guild with the highest representation was insectivores. Eight species were identified in risk categories, according to Mexican government regulations. This study is the first to record the bird diversity of a fragment of medium-sized rainforest in Tetzacual, Huejutla, Hidalgo. This vegetation type harbors a high diversity of endemic birds and species with conservation status, in addition to providing resources throughout the year. Therefore, medium-sized forests are of great importance for the conservation of birds in Mexico and underline the need to implement effective conservation strategies in these ecosystems.