Ornithology

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The field value for birds

A new bird species, which turned out to be of great relevance to science, is among the recent discoveries of the Ornithology Laboratory. Still without a formal name, the bird was identified and studied from 2006 to 2012 during a master’s study in the field of reproductive biology. According to the Laboratory’s coordinator, Carla Fontana, the bird displayed characteristics such as song, morphology, measurements, and the use of habitat that are different from the species to which it was attributed, which resulted in a scientific correction.

With the title of “The reproductive biology of field Passeriformes threatened with extinction in Southern Brazil,” the project, which began in 2007, was performed in high-altitude fields in the states of Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina. The financial support for the investigations was provided by the Grupo O Boticário Foundation for the Protection of Nature and by the Natural Grassland Conservancy. In partnership with UFRGS and other Brazilian teaching and research institutions, the researchers perform activities focused on the biodiversity of field and the field/forest ecotones in South Brazil with the objective of understanding and valuing the diversity of this environment, which is heavily represented in Rio Grande do Sul. In this regard, there is a project involving Sebrae, PUCRS, and SAVE Brasil/ BirdLife International. The initiative advocates a reduction in the interference in the environment in fields where cattle livestock is being raised, linking this behavior to greater productivity of farms dedicated to raising livestock – with a rotational use of the pastures – and the conservation of native fields, allowing for the reproduction/preservation of local and migratory birds.

The collection of the Ornithology Laboratory, one of the most qualified in Brazil, is mentioned in publications from different continents. Currently, it supplies genetic material (tissues) for a project housed at the School of Biosciences of PUCRS that will perform DNA sequencing of all of the existing bird species in Brazil, creating DNA or animal barcoding.