Restoring and Managing Mesic Herbaceous Habitats in Xeric Landscapes for the Benefit of Avifauna

Within grassland and desert ecosystems, temporary, seasonal, and semi-permanent wetlands occur as embedded features within the broader grassland or shrubland matrix. Despite forming a relatively small component of the landscape, these wetlands support disproportionately high levels of biodiversity. They are also highly dynamic systems, with hydroperiods that can vary substantially each year in response to precipitation and other environmental conditions. Surrounding these wetlands there is often an extensive ecotone where hydric conditions gradually transition to xeric uplands. Together, these habitat gradients support a diverse avian community, with many species selecting specific zones along the wetland-upland interface. As a result, avian community composition can vary considerably across wet and dry years and in response to habitat management practices. Temporary and seasonal wetlands are often being lost, along with grassland components, during large-scale as well as piecemeal agricultural, industrial, and residential developments. Concerningly, these changes often pass unnoticed, and with climate heating we may see a greater prevalence of wide-scale losses.This special issue highlights the importance of these mesic and transitional habitats for bird life in xeric environments, and seeks to further science related to their management and conservation. This Special Issue welcomes submissions addressing a broad range of taxa, from passerines (e.g., LeConte’s Sparrow) to wading birds (e.g., Long-billed Curlew), as well as their associated habitats (e.g., wet meadows) and the conservation, management, and monitoring efforts directed toward these resources.White-naped Cranes (Antigone vipio) foraging in a seasonal wetland in the Khurkh Valley of northeastern Mongolia, photo by A.J. Caven. Topic editors: Andrew J. Caven, Bethany L Ostrom Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/85482/restoring-and-managing-mesic-herbaceous-habitats-in-xeric-landscapes-for-the-benefit-of-avifauna