Developing a Species-based Model for Biodiversity Assessment in an Agricultural Landscape in Nicaragua.

An important effect of cattle raising in Nicaragua has been fragmentation of natural landscapes, mainly forests. On the central region as well as in other parts of the country, fragmented landscapes have originated mostly as a direct effect of deforestation made to explode local forest resources and create new areas for agriculture and cattle raising. Here, we present results of various analyses made, mostly based on information from PËREZ et al. (2006) regarding one year of monitoring species composition and community structure on birds, mollusks and trees communities from silvi-pastoral systems of Matiguás and Paiwas, Dpt. of Matagalpa. Our main conclusions are as follows. Land uses show a low number of species strictly associated to them. Land uses with highest number of exclusive birds are Riparian Forests and Primary Forest of Quirragua protected area with six species; Land use type with highest number of mollusk species is Primary Forest of Quirragua protected area with seven species. Beta diversity could be as well considered medium. It means that there are some species exclusive to particular land use types but many species are shared among land use types, given as a result a medium turnover rate. An analysis made in order to assess tolerance to disturbance showed that average values for the birds community are above.