Patterns of Bird Diversity and Endemism Along an Elevational Gradient in the Southern Mexican Highlands.
Edson A. Álvarez-Álvarez, Rosalba Rodríguez-Godínez, Pablo Sierra-Morales, Sandy Astrid Medina Valdivia, Estefanía Vázquez-Salgado, Marlene Brito-Millán, R. Carlos Almazán-Núñez
Abstract
(10 circular plots with a radius of 25 m per elevation site). Diversity was calculated in terms of effective number of species or Hill numbers, while the composition of bird species along the elevational gradient was analyzed by non-metric multidimensional scaling, and endemic bird species turnover was assessed with faunal congruence curves. Overall, a total of 118 bird species belonging to 35 families were recorded along the elevational gradient. Although we found that bird richness and diversity increased with increasing elevation, we also observed significant turnover in bird composition and endemic species, which were likely linked to forest types and conditions, as well as proximity of sites to urban centers. Assessing biodiversity patterns across elevational gradients in a well-recognized biodiversity reservoir advances both understanding of ecological patterns and aids conservation efforts and management of biological resources.