Changes in the Distribution of Birds: What Door have we opened? The Cases of the Rufous-naped Wren (Campylurhynchus rufinucha) and White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica) in Costa Rica

Abstract

The main factors affecting biodiversity are habitat loss, fragmentation, species overexploitation, pollution and introduction of exotic species. A new threat has to be added, global climate change (GCC). Moreover, synergies between two or more of these factors increasingly affect biodiversity. One of the expected effects, which are already happening, is the change of the species distribution ranges. One consequence of these changes is the relocation and the re-conformation of biotic communities and species assemblages. This will bring several biotic consequences of which species extinctions is the most serious. Several bird species have increased their range, which could be due to the increase in temperature due to the GCC and the loss and fragmentation of the habitat. In recent years several changes in bird species distribution have been reported for Costa Rica. Here, we report the extension of the distribution of Rufous-naped Wren (Campylurhynchus rufinucha) and White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica) from the dry forest and western Central Valley of Costa Rica to highland areas of this valley. Furthermore we discuss the range extension of other bird species in Costa Rica. We also discuss the possible factors and consequences of species distribution changes in relation to biodiversity conservation.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5377/ceiba.v52i2.1760