Uso y partición de nicho ecológico por la avifauna en árboles de Ficus (Rosales: Moraceae) en paisajes ganaderos de Córdoba, Colombia

Uso y partición de nicho ecológico por la avifauna en árboles de Ficus (Rosales: Moraceae) en paisajes ganaderos de Córdoba, Colombia Use and partition of ecological niche by birdlife in Ficus trees (Rosales: Moraceae) in livestock landscapes of Córdoba, Colombia

Extensive livestock farming produces changes in land use, generating a matrix of grasslands with few scattered trees, which negatively affects biodiversity. The objective of the work was to determine the use that birds give to the trees of the genus Ficus in livestock landscapes, and how the species share the niche. Five Ficus trees separated 300 meters from each other were selected, and all bird species that interacted with Ficus, types of use, vertical stratification were recorded. 77 species and 8 types of use were recorded, being "Percha" and "fruit consumption" the most frequent. 63 species of birds were recorded in the upper stratum, 40 in the middle stratum and 45 in the lower stratum of the trees, with greater abundance in the middle stratum. The results indicate that the Ficus trees scattered in the pastures represent an important resource for the birds, which seem to present spatial partition of the niche, with the presence of exclusive species in the different tree strata. It is concluded that Ficus sp., Which, due to its asynchronous provision of fruits, represents a key resource for many species of resident and migratory birds, as well as offering insects, roost and refuge sites, which favors the conservation of the diversity of birds in these heavily transformed landscapes.