Playas contribute substantially to biodiversity in the Great Plains by providing habitat and food resources for migratory waterfowl and other wetland dependent species; however, the combination of sedimentation, land use alteration, and climate change threatens this primary function of the wetlands. Within a changing climate, alterations to playa hydro-periods will likely have severe consequences, as playa plants, animals, and nutrient cycling are dependent on regular inundation and drying cycles. Invertebrates, amphibians, and larger wildlife require very specific moisture conditions to proliferate and survive in playas, and plant communities in playas also depend on seasonal precipitation patterns. Thus, changes in the amount and [...]
Summary
Playas contribute substantially to biodiversity in the Great Plains by providing habitat and food resources for migratory waterfowl and other wetland dependent species; however, the combination of sedimentation, land use alteration, and climate change threatens this primary function of the wetlands. Within a changing climate, alterations to playa hydro-periods will likely have severe consequences, as playa plants, animals, and nutrient cycling are dependent on regular inundation and drying cycles. Invertebrates, amphibians, and larger wildlife require very specific moisture conditions to proliferate and survive in playas, and plant communities in playas also depend on seasonal precipitation patterns. Thus, changes in the amount and duration of rainfall may have detrimental effects on the biodiversity and long periods of drought may alter the distribution and persistence of native plant species. Regional climate models for the Great Plains predict with strong certainty that mean temperature will increase in the next thirty years. Regional climate models also predict with somewhat less certainty that precipitation events in the southern High Plains will become more variable and intense, leading to extended periods of drought and flooding.
Soil chemical properties strongly influence changes in microbial and plant communities; thus, it is important to comprehensively understand the physical, chemical, and biological response of playas to changing precipitation and temperature. As we begin to understand the impacts of climate change on playas, it will be important to disseminate this information to managers who can utilize the knowledge to set conservation priorities moving forward.