Diversity patterns in the terrestrial avifauna of the Salton sea

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  • Authors: Mendelsohn, Mark B.; Boarman, William I.; Fisher, Robert N.
  • Publication Year: 2005
  • Publication Series: General Technical Report (GTR)
  • Source: In: Ralph, C. John; Rich, Terrell D., editors 2005. Bird Conservation Implementation and Integration in the Americas: Proceedings of the Third International Partners in Flight Conference. 2002 March 20-24; Asilomar, California, Volume 1 Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-191. Albany, CA: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station: p. 617-620

Abstract

We performed bird point counts monthly March-June 2001 and bi-monthly August 2001-February 2002 across a sampling grid of 35 points along the west edge of Salton Sea. We found that landbird species diversity (both in numbers of species, and numbers per species) was dependent on proximity to the sea. Diversity was at a maximum nearest the shore, and was significantly lower farther from the shore. Creosote bush (Larrea tridentata) and alkali goldenbush (Isocoma acradenia) are the co-dominant plants on the study site, and vary widely in their horizontal and vertical structure. After measuring vegetation cover within the study site, we concluded that avian diversity patterns were caused by these differences in vegetation structure, which also corresponded to proximity to the water's edge. In light of the prevalent debates on potential restrictions of water inflow to the Salton Basin, there is concern that the ecology of the landbirds using this land-shore interface, not to mention the millions of waterbirds and other organisms using the region, may be severely impacted (Shuford et al. 2002).

  • Citation: Mendelsohn, Mark B.; Boarman, William I.; Fisher, Robert N. 2005. Diversity patterns in the terrestrial avifauna of the Salton sea. In: Ralph, C. John; Rich, Terrell D., editors 2005. Bird Conservation Implementation and Integration in the Americas: Proceedings of the Third International Partners in Flight Conference. 2002 March 20-24; Asilomar, California, Volume 1 Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-191. Albany, CA: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station: p. 617-620
  • Posted Date: March 2, 2009
  • Modified Date: April 1, 1980

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