ARTICLE Influence of Local and Landscape Characteristics on Avian Richness and Density in Wet Playas of the Southern Great Plains, USA Jo-Szu Tsai & Louise S. Venne & Loren M. Smith & Scott T. McMurry & David A. Haukos Received: 8 May 2011 / Accepted: 26 January 2012 / Published online: 16 March 2012 # Society of Wetland Scientists 2012 Abstract Playa wetlands (shallow, circular, depressional wetlands) in the Southern Great Plains are essential to the maintenance of regional biodiversity. However, the relative importance of habitat characteristics for maintaining avian species richness and density in playas is unknown. We exam- ined influences of local- and landscape-scale characteristics on avian communities in wet playas. We conducted biweekly avian surveys on 80 playas (40 playas/year) from summer 2003 through spring 2005. Avian species richness was posi- tively related to playa area and hydroperiod. More avian species and greater densities of birds were found at wetlands when water depths were intermediate (30–80 cm) during fall, winter and spring. Increased cultivation in playa watersheds increased total-, native-, and exotic-avian species richness. However, unsustainable sediment accumulation caused by cultivation can fill the playa basin and result in the loss of playa function, which will not benefit future bird populations. Landscape variables generally were less consistent with avian communities among seasons compared to local variables. Playas with greater numbers of other playas within 1 and 10 km had lower bird densities than those with fewer sur- rounding playas, likely due to the increase of habitat avail- ability. Larger playas within predominantly uncultivated watersheds, that have an intermediate water depth, longer hydroperiod (within a season), and 26–50% vegetation cover are likely to maximize seasonal native avian richness. How- ever, manipulating static water depths and maintaining long hydroperiods over extended periods will not meet avian objec- tives over the long term because playas must go through natural wet/dry fluctuations between years to maintain the desired plant community and productivity that supports di- verse avian populations. Introduction Environmental characteristics within a wetland (e.g., water depth and vegetation) are generally good predictors of avian diversity and abundance (Elphick and Oring 1998). Because wetlands are closely linked to their surrounding watersheds, activities beyond the wetland boundary at the landscape level can also influence wetland function (Gleason and Euliss 1998; Houlahan and Findlay 2003; Smith et al. 2008). For example, agricultural practices surrounding a J.-S. Tsai Wildlife and Fisheries Management Institute, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA J.-S. Tsai (*) : D. A. Haukos Department of Natural Resources Management, Texas Tech University, MS 2125, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA e-mail: ross.tsai@ttu.edu L. S. Venne Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, 110 Newins-Ziegler Hall, P. O. Box 110430, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA L. M. Smith : S. T. McMurry Department of Zoology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA Wetlands (2012) 32:605–618 DOI 10.1007/s13157-012-0280-1 Keywords Avian Community . Hydroperiod . Playas . Southern Great Plains