River red gum woodlands associated with ephemeral river channels in arid Australia are recognised as important habitat for a suite of bird species, due to their distinctive structure, large canopies and abundant tree hollows. We tested the proposition that river red gum woodlands harbour a distinctive bird assemblage that is relatively stable through time. We examined patterns of bird composition between habitats (riparian woodland versus neighbouring habitat) over multiple years (from 2016 to 2018) and locations (three catchments), and we assessed these patterns in the context of variable food resource availability. Assemblages in river red gum woodlands differed from those of adjacent vegetation, despite strong temporal variability caused by arrival of nomadic species in both habitat types following above‐average rainfall. Species richness was reduced in the drier periods, yet bird assemblages in river red gum woodlands retained their distinctiveness from adjacent habitat. Flowering and fruiting of shrubs and trees were largely stimulated by rainfall; in contrast, invertebrate abundance was driven more by temperature and was higher in river red gum woodlands. Our data did not imply that river red gum woodland acted as a refuge in drier times for species from neighbouring habitat. Our study supports the hypothesis that arid bird community composition is influenced more by habitat than by temporal resource variability.

中文翻译：

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在资源可获得性对比期间，干旱河岸林地鸟类聚集的稳定性和可预测性

与干旱的澳大利亚短暂河道相关的河红树胶林地被认为是一系列鸟类的重要栖息地，这是由于其独特的结构，大的树冠和大量的树木凹陷。我们测试了以下主张：河红树胶林地具有独特的鸟类组合，该组合在时间上相对稳定。我们研究了多年（2016年至2018年）和栖息地（三个集水区）之间的栖息地（河岸林地与邻近栖息地）之间的鸟类组成模式，并在可变食物资源可获得性的背景下评估了这些模式。尽管由于降雨高于平均水平，游牧物种进入两种生境类型引起了强烈的时间变化，但河红胶林地的组装与相邻植被的组装有所不同。干旱时期物种丰富度降低，但河红树胶林地中的鸟类聚集体却与邻近生境保持着独特性。灌木和树木的开花结果主要受降雨的影响。相反，无脊椎动物的丰度更多地受温度驱动，而河红胶林地的无脊椎动物丰度更高。我们的数据并不意味着河红树胶林在干旱时期是邻近生境物种的避难所。我们的研究支持以下假设，即干旱鸟类群落组成受栖息地的影响比受时间资源变异性的影响更大。无脊椎动物的丰度更多地受温度驱动，而河红树胶林地的无脊椎动物丰度更高。我们的数据并不意味着河红树胶林在较干燥的时期成为邻近生境物种的避难所。我们的研究支持以下假设，即干旱鸟类群落组成受栖息地的影响比受时间资源变异性的影响更大。无脊椎动物的丰度更多地受温度驱动，而河红树胶林地的无脊椎动物丰度更高。我们的数据并不意味着河红树胶林在较干燥的时期成为邻近生境物种的避难所。我们的研究支持以下假设，即干旱鸟类群落组成受栖息地的影响比受时间资源变异性的影响更大。