Field experimental evidence for diffuse competition among Southwestern riparian birds.

In a 6-yr study of 70 generally insectivorous bird species in Arizona riparian woodlands, abundances of cavity-nesting species increased on 50 experimental plots compared with 49 control plots, following addition of artificial nest boxes. Open-nesting birds increased in abundance on control plots during the study but avoided experimental plots relative to control plots after box addition. Multivariate analysis revealed that a negative response of open nesters to the experiment was widespread among a large and ecologically diverse group of species. Results of this field experiment suggest that communitywide (diffuse) competition was an important factor influencing the distribution and abundance of birds in these riparian ecosystems.