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Ecología Aplicada

Print version ISSN 1726-2216

Abstract

CEBOLLADA PUTZ, Cintia; BASSO, Mariana; RUIZ DE LOS LLANOS, Estefanía  and  KUFNER, Maura. The chacoan fauna of Cordoba (Argentina) affected by the agricultural transformation of the habitat. Ecol. apl. [online]. 2012, vol.11, n.2, pp.77-87. ISSN 1726-2216.

Intensive agriculture has simplified the Chaco habitat and impoverished its biodiversity, in Córdoba, Argentina. Thus, the district of Totoral in the provincial core has become a cultivated matrix with very few relicts of native forest. The impact of agricultural transformation of the habitat, on vertebrate communities attributes, was studied in remnants of native vegetation with different condition and shape (quadrangular HC, and elongated HA). Habitat structure was more complete in the first one, even considering climatic influence; while in HA strata higher than 7 m were missing, and bare soil and shrub thicket were increased. A total of 109 species was scored. Species and individuals were more abundant during the wet period. Alterations of habitat favored: species of wide distribution, species tolerant to agro-systems conditions, and a general faunal impoverishment. Birds showed seasonal species replacement, but not in more permanent herpetological and mammalian communities. The guild structure presented most insectivores. During wet season herpetological specific diversity was higher, but in mammals it showed no seasonal difference, whereas in birds it was several orders higher in both seasons. The distribution of the herpetic and mammal communities in the habitat was mainly associated with coverage of herbaceous layer, while distribution of bird communities was related mostly to higher forest strata. Human pressures disturbing habitat characteristics in the Cordoban Chaco, affect important parameters and seasonal fluctuations of species, their spatial movements, as well as favor certain vertebrate groups. Forest remnants are essential for preservation and restoration of the regional fauna.

Keywords : Cordoba Chaco; agricultural expansion; degraded habitat; wildlife conservation.

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