TITLE:
Floristic, Structural, and Conservation Analysis of the Habitats Occupied by Dupont’s Lark, Chersophilus duponti, in the Northwest Edge of Its Distributional Range
AUTHORS:
Juan Luis Aguirre, Carlos Talabante, Alejandro Aparicio, Manuel Peinado
KEYWORDS:
Alaudidae, Passerine Birds, Vegetation-Birds Relationships, Steppe Birds, Conservation Status
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Ecology,
Vol.6 No.9,
August
10,
2016
ABSTRACT: This
paper describes and analyzes floristic, structural and conservation features of
the shrubland occupied by Chersophilus
duponti in the northwest corner of its world distribution range. This study
relates the coverage, floristic composition with estimated lark density in the
area. We identified four types of shrublands, three of them varied
significantly in floristic composition for the habitats of this species in
contrast with those of their world distribution: Cistus ladanifer scrubs; heaths dominated by Ericaceae, and scrubs
dominated by the genera Lavandula, Thymus and Cytisus. The fourth type, dominated by aromatic chamaephytes and
grass, fits descriptions of the bird’s typical habitat. The areas sampled are
subject to different categories of threats, the most significant being the
natural succession process due to the cessation of grazing, reforestation
measures and the use of flat areas for farmlands or other uses. The density of
larks in this area was directly related to coverage-composition of plant
community.