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Fire size and vegetation productivity shape bird diversity across burned landscapes in the Atlantic Forest

Adorno, Bruno1; Ribeiro, Milton2; Hasui, Érica3; Dinis, Bianca2; Godoy, Ederson3; Mazonli, Enzo1; Vaz, Pedro4; Piratelli, Augusto1

Published Jul 14, 2025 on Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.g1jwstr43

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Abstract

Fires pose an increasing threat to tropical forests worldwide. However, few studies have attempted to evaluate their impacts on bird communities. Consequently, the responses of tropical birds to this disturbance remain unclear.

We assessed bird community composition, species richness, and functional diversity between unburned and burned forests across 15 landscapes in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Additionally, we analyzed how these indices were influenced by native forest cover, vegetation productivity, fire severity, and fire size. To address these questions, we applied generalized linear mixed models. 

While unburned and burned forests exhibited similar species richness and functional diversity, they differed significantly in bird species composition. Species richness was positively associated with vegetation productivity. Functional diversity was primarily explained by fire size, with the magnitude and direction of the effects varying according to the functional index used and the forest type. 

Functional divergence showed a positive correlation with fire size in unburned forests and a negative correlation in burned forests. Functional dispersion, when considering communities across both forest types, was negatively correlated with fire size.

Synthesis and applications: This study highlights how bird communities in the Atlantic Forest respond to fires. Our findings show that fire can significantly alter species composition, even when species richness remains unchanged. Bird community responses are further shaped by vegetation productivity and fire size, emphasizing the need to consider multiple ecological factors in post-fire conservation strategies. We emphasize the need for tailored fire management strategies aimed at reducing forest degradation and fire occurrence. Effective measures, such as forest restoration and the implementation of 'fire-smart management' practices, are essential to safeguard bird diversity. These results underscore the need for proactive governmental policies to prevent and manage fires in the Atlantic Forest, particularly in highly degraded landscapes.