Influência de métricas da paisagem urbanizada sobre as aves de áreas verdes urbanas

Abstract

Urbanization is defined as a process in which natural environments are modified due to human activities, as the human population increases in an irreversible global scale. In this context, birds are excellent subjects of study as they are considered extremely important as biological indicators and perform various ecological functions, known as ecosystem services. The rich biodiversity in a region heavily impacted by human action, along with extensive work by ornithologists in the area, makes the Southeast Atlantic Forest in Brazil an excellent source of information about habitat alterations and adaptations of bird species in urban environments. Studies that utilize landscape metrics have become increasingly popular in recent decades, with the increased availability and accessibility of geospatial data, revealing notable relevance for understanding patterns and dynamics of biological diversity. The quality of the matrix includes its composition, vegetation structure, and the predation risk it represents for birds, while its permeability is considered an imperative factor in species dispersal. Given the pronounced and irreversible process of urbanization, and the scarcity of studies analyzing the influence of landscape metrics on avifauna in urban green areas, studies focused on understanding the dynamics of bird communities in these environments, especially those aimed at environmental preservation and human well-being, such as urban parks, become of fundamental importance. Twenty-five urban parks were selected in the municipality of São Paulo, Southeast Brazil, the largest megalopolis in Latin America. The selected areas were analyzed using QGIS software. A total of 279 species were reported in the study areas, with the families Thraupidae and Tyrannidae being the most representative. Data analysis reveals that tree density in impermeable surfaces within a 2.5 km radius is the variable that most influences the presence of avifauna in urban green areas. For the families Accipitridae and Trochilidae, the area also proved to be a potential predictor. In turn, the family Picidae also showed a potential correlation with the percentage of impermeable area in the 1 km buffer, which is expected and supports well-known hypotheses that the size of green areas influences species richness in fragmented areas of the Atlantic Forest, including urbanized areas. This study reinforces the importance of a quality, permeable, and treed matrix for birds and its significance for birds in an environment severely impacted by urbanization, as the percentage of soil sealing in the surrounding region of green areas and the presence of trees in the urban matrix influence the richness of all analyzed bird families, ultimately affecting various ecological processes in large cities. Understanding how birds utilize urban environments not only allows us to measure changes resulting from urban intensification but also contributes to better city planning in order to improve the status of urban bird communities and the quality of life for people