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Abstract
The upper Santa Ynez River, Santa Barbara County, provides habitats for a relatively large population of least Bell's vireos (
Vireo bellii pusillus), as well as diverse riparian flora and fauna. Of particular interest is the richness of the species within particular guilds. Four species of vireos: least Bell's, warbling (
Vireo gilvus), solitary (
Vireo solitarius) and Hutton's (
Vireo huttoni), coexist together often on overlapping territories taking advantage of both vertical and horizontal diversity. Floristically these habitats are equally rich, hosting five species of willows (
Salix spp.), two cottonwoods (
Populus spp.), two oaks (
Quercus spp.), alder (
Alnus rhombifolia), and sycamore (
Platanus racemosa), often in close or overlapping proximity. The most complex layer of vegetation is found precisely within the selected nesting range of the least Bell's vireo, suggesting that this degree of complexity may be of utmost importance in terms of future survival of the endangered vireo, and also many other riparian species.
Parent Publication
Citation
Gray, M. Violet; Greaves, James M.; Olson, Thomas E. 1989. The Upper Santa Ynez River as Habitat for a Diverse Riparian Flora and Fauna. In: Abell, Dana L., Technical Coordinator. 1989. Proceedings of the California Riparian Systems Conference: protection, management, and restoration for the 1990s; 1988 September 22-24; Davis, CA. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-110. Berkeley, CA: Pacific Southwest Forest and Range Experiment Station, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture; p. 339-341
