Post-disturbance Changes in a Desert Breeding Bird Community

--We examined breeding bird species richness, density, and community composition on a California desert riparian site in 1980 and, following construction of flood control structure and subsequent vegetation restoration, again in 1995. Both species richness and bird abundance declined markedly between 1980 and 1995. Except for turnover in locally scarce breeders, however, avian community composition did not shift significantly. Alteration and removal of much of the desert riparian habitat formerly on-site is probably responsible for the changes reflected in bird community structure, such that richness and density are now comparable to Breeding Bird Censuses conducted in other desert scrub habitats despite the intermittent stream that still transects the site. When examined in a broader context of desert bird community variation, overall community changes were slight if we emphasized species composition and abundance, but substantial if we emphasized species turnover. Community-level analyses emphasizing richness and composition are more sensitive to species turnover, whereas those incorporating bird density are more sensitive to changes in relative abundance. CAMBIOS POST-DISTURBIOS EN UNA COMUNIDAD REPRODUCTIVA DE AVES DE