Building sustainable paddy field agroecosystem through wetland creation in Southern Taiwan

A study in southern Taiwan's Kenting National Park established artificial wetlands in fallow organic rice fields to attract migrating shorebirds from the East Asian-Australasian Flyway due to declining natural wetlands. The experiment successfully attracted shorebirds to the flooded plots, leading to significant increases in bird populations and soil nutrient levels, including N, P, and Ca2+. The altered soil microbial community in the treated plots showed benefits for rice plants, highlighting the positive correlation between wetland creation and enhanced soil fertility, offering a promising approach for conserving migratory shorebirds and managing agroecosystems in the region.