Effects of <i>Acacia mangium</i> plantations on the taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity of birds in the savannas of northern Brazilian Amazon

The introduction of <i>Acacia mangium</i> plantations has altered the natural landscape of the northern Brazilian Amazon in recent decades, leading to a progressive decline in biodiversity, with a possible long-term loss of species, traits and lineages. In this context, we assessed the impact of this exotic species on the taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity of birds in the Serra da Lua region, Brazilian Amazon. We surveyed bird assemblages in a landscape composed of savanna, patches of natural forest and stands of acacia. Acacia had lower taxonomic diversity compared to the forest and a lower functional volume when compared to the savanna. We observed that acacia plantations harbored many generalist and opportunistic species from both natural habitats, which increased the abundance of these species in the plantations. The heterogeneity in bird composition suggests dissimilarities in the pattern of niche occupancy and evolutionary relationship among bird assemblages across the landscape. The conversion of savannas to acacia emphasizes the urgency of implementing policies aiming at long-term monitoring and management of forest plantations in the Serra da Lua region.