Assessing the Relative Impacts of Roadkill and Nest Poaching on the Population Viability of the Blue-and-Yellow Macaw, Ara ararauna (Aves: Psittaciformes), in a Brazilian National Park

Diversity

卷:13

Oswaldo Marçal Júnior¹  Carine Firmino Carvalho-Roel¹ 

[1] Post-Graduate Program in Ecology and Conservation of Natural Resources, Federal University of Uberlândia, 1720 Pará Avenue, Uberlândia 38405-320, Brazil;

关键词: road ecology;    Psittacidae;    wildlife illegal trafficking;    minimum viable population;    Emas National Park;    wildlife vehicle collision;   

DOI  :  10.3390/d13120652

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

The blue-and-yellow macaw (Ara ararauna) is suffering from higher roadkill rates (RK) at the Emas National Park (ENP), an important Brazilian National Park in the Cerrado biome. This species is also a victim of nest poaching for illegal trade. We modeled the blue-and-yellow macaw population’s viability in ENP and how this viability is affected by roadkill and nest poaching. We hereby report that the species is critically at risk and could be extinct in about a decade when considering both threats. Without considering any threat, 150 individuals are necessary to maintain a viable population. When individuals are harvested at a roadkill rate of 0.008 individuals/km/year and at twice this level, the viability figures increase to 4500 and 7500 birds, respectively. For nest poaching, we estimated that 2000 individuals are required to maintain a viable population. When both threats are present, 5000 individuals are necessary. The dynamics of the population are highly sensitive to the age at which females reproduce for the first time and the proportion of reproducing adult females, followed by the rate of adult survival. Our model demonstrates how even a non-threatened highly mobile species, such as the blue-and-yellow macaw, may be at risk due to human activities.

【 授权许可】

Unknown