Waterbird-Perceived Damage, Control Measures, and Economic Implications for Rice Production in the Brazilian Cerrado

Authors

• Demetrio Luis Guadagnin, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do SulFollow
• Alexandre Afonso Meyer, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do SulFollow
• João Augusto Rossi Borges, Universidade Federal da Grande DouradosFollow
• Fernanda Maia Justo, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do SulFollow

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Abstract

Waterbirds have the potential to inflict economic damage to crops. However, is rice (Oryza sativa) production in the Brazilian Cerrado significantly affected by waterbirds? This study aimed to assess the extent of waterbird damage on irrigated rice production in Central Brazil. We conducted surveys of waterbird populations in rice agroecosystem habitats throughout the cultivation cycle and analyzed the expenses associated with waterbird-induced yield losses and the control measures employed by farmers. The 2 most prevalent waterbird species observed were Dendrocygna viduatta and D. autumnalis, comprising 68.6% of all recorded waterbirds. These species were more frequently encountered and abundant in post-harvest paddies. The implementation of vigilance and auditory deterrents proved to be effective and cost-efficient in controlling their presence. Approximately 87% of farmers reported taking actions to mitigate waterbird damage, with 62% experiencing rice production losses due to bird attacks and 20% incurring additional costs for replanting paddies. The benefit-cost ratio of damage control measures was found to be >1. Although waterbirds do cause damage and elevate the costs of rice production in Central Brazil, farmers can effectively manage this issue at a relatively low expense. Consequently, waterbirds do not pose a major problem for rice production in the region.

Recommended Citation

Guadagnin, Demetrio Luis; Meyer, Alexandre Afonso; Borges, João Augusto Rossi; and Justo, Fernanda Maia (2024) "Waterbird-Perceived Damage, Control Measures, and Economic Implications for Rice Production in the Brazilian Cerrado," Human–Wildlife Interactions: Vol. 18: Iss. 3, Article 7.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.26077/m506-dv58
Available at: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/hwi/vol18/iss3/7