Movements of birds among natural vegetation patches in the Pantanal, Brazil

Bird movements among natural vegetation patches in the Pantanal, Brazil, are significantly influenced by inter-patch distance and body mass. Research found that bird movement rates decreased as the distance between forest patches increased, while larger-bodied species traveled greater distances compared to smaller ones, particularly Passeriformes which rarely exceeded 286 meters. The study, conducted over a year with observations of 1,138 bird movements and 69 recaptures across 11 forest patches, suggests that small forest fragments may not support large-bodied species effectively, while small-bodied species struggle with more isolated patches. These findings highlight the importance of patch size and spatial arrangement in maintaining bird biodiversity, indicating that stepping stones can serve as viable alternatives to continuous biological corridors when necessary.

YABE, R. D. S., MARQUES, E. J., & MARINI, M. Â. (2010). Movements of birds among natural vegetation patches in the Pantanal, Brazil. Bird Conservation International, 20(4), 400–409. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0959270910000067