Reproductive colonies of Zenaida auriculata noronha in the Chapada do Araripe Environmental Protection Area: monitoring and impacts of human activities
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37002/biodiversidadebrasileira.v16i1.2758Keywords:
Eared dove , Caatinga , hunting with fire, predation, transmission linesAbstract
The Eared Dove (Zenaida auriculata) is a pigeon that is widely found in South America. Its subspecies Z. a. noronha stands out for forming large flocks during the breeding
season, following the movement of the rains in the Caatinga. The concentration of a large number of individuals makes the species susceptible to illegal hunting, as well as to collisions with anthropogenic structures. This work presents the results of the monitoring of Eared Doves in the region of Caldeirão Grande do Piauí and Araripina, involving capture, banding, population estimates, recording of predator presence and preliminary assessment of human impacts on this subspecies, obtained over the course of three expeditions, between 2013 and 2022. A total of 2,540
individuals were captured in the three campaigns, and population estimates ranged from 787,813 adult individuals (2022) to 3,852,667 (2013). Twenty-four species of predators and three saprophagous species were observed in the colony areas during the expeditions, including 20 bird
species, five mammal species, and two reptile species. Power transmission and distribution lines were responsible for an estimated mortality rate of 7.21% (n = 96,552) of the monitored colony population in 2022, highlighting the importance of the impact of this type of enterprise on the
species. This study highlights how illegal hunting and transmission lines can negatively impact the population of Eared Doves, drawing attention to the need for and importance of monitoring and the use of measures to reduce the negative effect of the electrical grid on this subspecies.
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