The Importance of Forest-Nonforest Transition Zones for Avian Conservation in a Vegetation Disturbance Gradient in the Northern Neotropics

Tropical landscape connectivity and matrix quality near large stands of primary forest are important factors that dictate biodiversity trends in communities. Suitable management surrounding may help conserve biodiversity, but areas with poor need attention to determine their long-term viability support native levels biodiversity. We examined variations species functional diversity community composition using point-count surveys placed preserved (PRES), transition (TRA), disturbed (DIS) according percent land cover cattle pasture along a human disturbance gradient the northern Neotropics during an 8 month period from 2019–2020. expected drive loss specialists PRES DIS, resulting changes composition. detected 228 overall, 163 (40 unique species), 159 TRA (9 152 DIS (20 species). supported avian shared aspects leading highest functional, Shannon (85.8 estimated Simpson (57.9 species) diversity. Higher open-area has led shifts traits different compositions relative PRES. Land Neotropical human-modified landscapes must focus on increasing habitat remnant fragments vicinity prevent ecosystem service distancing local compositions.