Results:
A total of 156 butterfly individuals (85 rural and 71 urban) from 14 species, 1,668 bird individuals (511 rural and 1157 urban) from 12 species and a 15 ± 0.9% (mean ± standard error) percentage cover of plants from 115 species (220 rural and 189 urban) were recorded across the 18 study sites. The most abundant butterfly species were Freyer’s grayling (Hipparchia fatua ; 49 individuals, 7 in urban, 42 in rural), Scarce swallowtail (Iphiclides podalirius ; 21 individuals, 20 in urban, 1 in rural), and Mallow skipper (Carcharodus alceae ; 21 individuals, all in urban). The most abundant bird species were House sparrow (Passer domesticus ; 588 individuals, 559 in urban, 29 in rural), Yellow-legged gull (Larus michahellis ; 452 individuals, 277 in urban, 152 in rural), and Hooded crow (Corvus cornix ; 395 individuals, 152 in urban, 243 in rural). The most abundant vegetation species were Desert saltgrass (Distichlis spicata ; present in 37 quadrats, 5 in urban, 32 in rural), Slender wild oat (Avena barbata ; present in 24 quadrats, 10 in urban, 14 in rural), and Mastic shrub (Pistacia lentiscus ; present in 19 quadrats, 6 in urban, 13 in rural).