The Diversity and Distribution of Avian Communities in Relation to the Shrubs Ephedra Californica and Larrea Tridentata in the Central California Desert

Interactions between key landscape features in desert ecosystems can influence avian community assembly. Bird species may use resources provided by shrubs, including as thermal refuges and as a food source.

Citizen science data, such as eBird, is broadly accessible and has been underutilized in the study of fine-scale avian populations and distributions. eBird data offers opportunities for examining avian diversity and abundance across ecological gradients.

Using citizen science data, I tested the hypothesis that shrub density and aridity predict the abundance and diversity of bird communities throughout the Central California desert. Shrub density and aridity were important predictors of avian diversity and abundance, but this effect was not constant across species. eBird data offers promise for testing predictions at fine spatial scales, but limitations in the quality and availability of data across locations must be taken into consideration.