Responses and Adaptations of Coastal Waterbirds and Their Habitats to Global Change

Coastal wetlands, positioned at the dynamic boundary between land and sea, are among the world’s most ecologically significant ecosystems. These areas serve as vital breeding, stopover, and wintering grounds for migratory waterbirds, supporting a rich diversity of species and offering essential ecological services—such as nutrient cycling, shoreline stabilization, and biodiversity maintenance. In recent decades, the persistence and quality of coastal wetlands have been increasingly threatened by the effects of global change, including sea level rise, climate variability, land use transformations, and intensified human activities. These threats have resulted in the loss, degradation, and fragmentation of habitats, posing major challenges to the survival, stability, and adaptive potential of coastal waterbird populations. Investigating the ways in which coastal waterbirds and their habitats respond and adapt to these changes is crucial for informing effective strategies in conservation and sustainable management.This Research Topic is dedicated to advancing our understanding of the responses and adaptations of coastal waterbird communities and their habitats under the influence of global environmental change. We welcome studies that investigate patterns, processes, and mechanisms of change at population, community, or ecosystem levels. The goal is to compile innovative findings that not only improve our ecological knowledge, but also support practical approaches to the conservation and management of coastal wetlands and waterbirds facing ongoing environmental challenges.We invite submissions in the form of original research articles, reviews, perspectives, and methodological papers. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:• Impacts of global change: Effects of sea level rise, climate change, land use shifts, and other anthropogenic pressures on coastal waterbirds and their habitats;• Ecological mechanisms: Interactions between environmental drivers and species’ biological characteristics that shape waterbird responses;• Adaptation and resilience: Strategies adopted by waterbirds in response to habitat alteration, including utilization of artificial or restored wetlands;• Conservation and management: Approaches to habitat protection, spatial planning, and policy development to support sustainable waterbird populations;• Innovative methods: Advances in monitoring, modeling, or assessment techniques relevant to waterbird habitat use and conservation under global change.We encourage contributions from a variety of disciplines—including, but not limited to, ecology, conservation biology, landscape planning, environmental management, and policy analysis—offering both site-specific case studies and broader syntheses. Topic editors: Houlang Duan, Bingrun Zhu, Cheng Wang Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/71959/responses-and-adaptations-of-coastal-waterbirds-and-their-habitats-to-global-change