Abstract

MEDINA, W; MACANA GARCIA, D. C  and  SANCHEZ, F. Birds and Mammals of High Mountain Ecosystems in the Rabanal Paramo (Boyacá-Colombia). Ciencia en Desarrollo [online]. 2015, vol.6, n.2, pp.185-198. ISSN 0121-7488.

The Rabanal Paramo is an important water source for the departments of Cundinamarca and Boyacá, but its natural ecosystems have been profoundly modified by human activities. Biodiversity inventories are useful tools to propose conservation and management plans for the species and the habitats they rely on. Therefore, an inventory of birds and mammals of Matanegra zone, Rabanal Paramo, municipality of Ventaquemada (Boyacá) was conducted. Point counts, transects, detections ad libitum, and mist nets were used to record birds; and transects, track searches and live traps were used for mammals. 57 species of birds and 14 of mammals were recorded. Several species have restricted distributions (Anas andium, Colinus cristatus bogotensis, Fulica americana columbiana, Gallinago nobilis, Eriocnemis cupreoventris, Conirostrum rufum, Atlapetes pallidinucha, Myioborus ornatus, Sporagra spinescens, Cryptotis thomasi y Thomasomys niveipes), are endangered (Cuniculus taczanowskii y Nasuella olivacea), or have not been previously reported in the area (39 species). The number of species for Rabanal is low compared with protected neighboring areas in Boyacá and Cundinamarca. However, despite human-caused perturbations, Rabanal contains typical elements of high mountain ecosystems. Conservation measures such as the development of environmental education projects with local communities to mitigate the impacts on the paramo are recommended.

Keywords : Andes; Birds; Biodiversity inventories; Boyacá-Cundinamarca high plateau; Mammals.

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