Data from: What can mixed-species flock movement tell us about the value of Amazonian secondary forests? insights from spatial behavior

The value of secondary forest for rainforest species remains an important
question for conservation in the 21st century. Here, we describe the
spatial behavior of understory mixed-species flocks in a heterogeneous
landscape in central Amazonia. Understory mixed-species flocks represent a
diverse, highly organized component of the rich Amazonian avifauna. We
recorded movements within 26 flock home ranges in primary forest,
secondary forest, interfaces between forest types, and forest fragments.
We describe frequency and movement orientation in relation to forest
edges, movement patterns and proportion of use between secondary and
primary forest, the relation between home range sizes and vegetation
height, and home range configuration. Flocks visited only a small portion
of forest edges, and showed a tendency for moving parallel to edges next
to less-developed secondary forest. Movement patterns in secondary forests
did not show significant differences compared to primary forests. Time
spent in secondary forests increased in proportion to mean canopy height.
Flocks were consistently present in secondary forests where vegetation
height averaged over 15 m, but home ranges were nearly twice as large
compared to primary forest. Home range limits tended to be aligned with
disturbed vegetation, essentially rearranging a territorial configuration
normally adjusted by topography. The spatial behavior of this important
subset of the Amazonian avifauna shows that secondary forests are
tolerated above a certain development threshold, but perceived as sub
optimal habitat until canopy height closely matches primary forests.