The role of climate and environmental variables in structuring bird assemblages in the Seasonally Dry Tropical Forests (SDTFs)

Bird species richness peaks during the rainy season and declines significantly in dry periods within Seasonally Dry Tropical Forests (SDTFs), revealing strong seasonal climate influences on bird communities. This pattern, observed in Serra da Capivara National Park and adjacent areas, underscores how environmental heterogeneity and spatial factors shape both species diversity and composition. While local environmental conditions primarily drive richness, variations in species composition are more strongly linked to broader environmental and spatial dynamics. The study highlights the vulnerability of these ecosystems to climate change, particularly frequent droughts and rising temperatures, which threaten desertification and biodiversity loss—exacerbated by deforestation and insufficient conservation efforts. These findings emphasize the need for targeted conservation strategies to mitigate climate-driven disruptions in xeric environments like Brazil's Caatinga biome.

Gonçalves, G. S. R., Cerqueira, P. V., Brasil, L. S., & Santos, M. P. D. (2017). The role of climate and environmental variables in structuring bird assemblages in the Seasonally Dry Tropical Forests (SDTFs). Plos One, 12(4), e0176066. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0176066