Bird diversity of the Cúcuta valley (Colombia) and biogeographical affinities with dry forest avifaunas of northern South America

• DOI: 10.1676/16-016.1
• Publication Date: 2018-04-26T16:33:02Z
• Authors: Jorge Enrique Ave...; Juan Pablo López-O.; Oscar Laverde-R.
• Keywords: Dry forest

Seasonally dry tropical forest is the least known and most threatened ecosystem in Neotropics. In December 2009, we surveyed 3 remnants arid Cúcuta valley, northeast Colombia. We recorded 140 of 171 maximum species expected for study area. Another 20 were observed outside inventory, totaling 160 whole region. Results similarity analysis showed that valley avifauna biogeographically more related to inter-Andean river valleys than Caribbean plains Colombia lowlands northern Venezuela. This pattern biogeographical affinities bird communities northwestern South America seems be explained by effect geographic distance rather environmental differences shaping composition (β-diversity) phylogenetic relatedness (phyloβ-diversity) across space. Our results highlight uniqueness need protect topical valley.