📝 SummarXiv

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of time since fire on bird community composition in Southern California chaparral ecosystems. We surveyed avian richness and abundance across 14 sites representing a 0 to 25 year post-fire chronosequence in Los Angeles County. Sites burned within the last five years supported fewer species, primarily dominated by generalists, while mid- to late-successional sites exhibited greater richness and a higher proportion of specialists. These patterns corresponded with increases in vegetation structural complexity over time. However, no consistent relationships were found between bird communities and abiotic variables, such as weather, temperature, and elevation, likely due to the single-visit sampling design. Our results align with successional theory and underscore the ecological importance of fire return intervals that allow full chaparral recovery. Restoration and management should prioritize long-term structural development, invasive grass control, and post-fire heterogeneity to support diverse and resilient avian communities.