Taxonomic diversity and species richness of birds in the wetlands of the Peruvian coast

Abstract

Peru is home to over 1870 bird species, 27 % of which are associated with aquatic environments. These species perform essential ecological functions; however, they are especially vulnerable due to their high dependence on wetlands for foraging and resting. This study evaluated the richness, composition, taxonomic diversity, and functional traits of bird communities across twelve Peruvian coastal wetlands. Non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) was used to examine the influence of environmental and spatial variables (wetland size, water body extent, habitat diversity, and latitude) on avian composition, utilizing functional traits from the AVONET database. A total of 236 species belonging to 23 orders and 52 families were identified, with Charadriiformes and Passeriformes being the most predominant. The average taxonomic distinctness (Δ⁺ = 90.74) revealed high evolutionary heterogeneity. NMDS analysis indicated that larger wetlands with more extensive water bodies harbor higher richness, although no statistically significant differences were found. The results underscore the importance of these ecosystems as biodiversity refuges and highlight the need for enhanced ecological research in the face of anthropogenic pressures and climate change to support effective conservation strategies.