POPULATION ABUNDANCE OF Fluvicola nengeta (LINNAEUS, 1766) (AVES: TYRANNIDAE) IN A URBAN PARK

Abstract

Fluvicola nengeta is a passerine bird of the Tyrannidae family, which usually lives in areas near watercourses, such as rivers or lakes. This bird is quite common in northeastern Brazil but is expanding towards the south of the country and to other countries in South America. This study aimed to observe the population abundance of F. nengeta over two periods. For the collection of data on the species abundance in the years 2008/2009 and 2014/2015, we delimited 10 sampling points in the Sabiá Park (Uberlândia, MG). We performed monthly calculations of the Index of Point Abundance (IPA) for each assessed period and carried out measurements of the Frequency of Occurrence (FO) at each point sampled in each period. The sampling points were classified according to their environmental quality. There was a difference in the monthly IPA between the periods, which were higher in the 2014/2015 period. The FO per sampling point did not differ between the two periods analyzed. There was no relationship between the FO per point and the environmental quality of each point in any of the periods analyzed. There was no difference in the monthly IPA between the dry and rainy season in any of the periods analyzed. The constant conversion of natural habitats in to anthropized areas, along with the behavioral characteristics of F. nengeta, can be favoring the growth and expansion of its populations in this region.