Lianas abundance is positively related with the avian acoustic community in tropical dry forests

Dry forests are important sources of biodiversity where lianas are highly abundant given
their ability to grow during times of drought and as a result of secondary growth processes. Lianas
provide food and shelter for fauna such as birds, but there are no studies assessing the influence of
liana abundance on birds in dry forests. Here we evaluate the influence of liana abundance on the
avian acoustic community in the dry forests of Costa Rica at Santa Rosa National Park. We selected
forest sites with different levels of liana abundance and set up automated sound recorders for data
collection, analysis and estimation of the avian acoustic community. When the number of lianas
increases, the avian acoustic community becomes more complex. Lianas could provide important
direct and indirect resources for birds such as structure for shelter, protection, nesting and roosting,
and food. The positive relationship that lianas have with birds is particularly important in dry forests
where...