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The Chimalapas Region, Oaxaca, Mexico: a high-priority region for bird conservation in Mesoamerica

Peterson, A. Townsend
; 
Navarro-Sigüenza, Adolfo G.
; 
Hernández-Baños, Blanca E.
; 
Escalona-Segura, Griselda
; 
Rebón-Gallardo, Fanny
; 
Rodríguez-Ayala, Emir
; 
Figueroa-Esquivel, Elsa M.
; 
Cabrera-García, Leonardo
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Abstract
The Chimalapas region, in eastern Oaxaca, Mexico, holds lowland rainforests, tropical dry forests, and cloud forests typical of the Neotropics, as well as montane pine and pine-oak forests more typical of the Nearctic. Totaling more than 600,000 ha, much of the region is forested, and in a good state of preservation. The Chimalapas avifauna is by far the most diverse for any region of comparable size in the country, totalling at least 464 species in the region as a whole (with more than 300 species in the lowland rainforest) representing 44% of the bird species known from Mexico. Within the region, the humid Atlantic lowlands hold 317 species, the montane regions 113 species, and the southern dry forested lowlands 216 species. Important species present in the region include Harpy Eagle Harpia harpyja and several other large eagles, Black Penelopina nigra and probably Horned Oreophasis derbianus Guans, Scarlet Macaw Ara macao, Cinnamon-tailed Sparrow Aimophila sumichrasti, Rose-bellied Bunting Passerina rositae, and Resplendent Quetzal Pharomachrus mocinno. The area holds immense lowland rainforests and cloud forests that rank among the largest and best preserved in all of Mesoamerica, including a complete lowland-to-highland continuum, with entire watersheds preserved more or less intact.
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Date
2003
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Cambridge University Press
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Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Scholarly Works
Biodiversity Institute & Natural History Museum Scholarly Works
Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies Scholarly Works
Distinguished Professors Scholarly Works
Kansas African Studies Center Scholarly Works
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Peterson, A. T., A. G. Navarro-Sigüenza, B. E. Hernández-Baños, G. Escalona-Segura, F. Rebón-Gallardo, E. Rodríguez-Ayala, E. M. Figueroa-Esquivel, and L. Cabrera-García. 2003. The Chimalapas region, Oaxaca, Mexico: A high-priority region for bird conservation in Mesoamerica. Bird Conservation International 13:227-254. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0959270903003186
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https://hdl.handle.net/1808/6533
DOI
10.1017/S0959270903003186
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