Mesic habitat

In ecology, a mesic habitat is a type of habitat with a well-balanced supply of moisture throughout the growing season, e.g., a mesic forest, a temperate hardwood forest, or dry-mesic prairie. Mesic is one of a triad of terms used to label a habitat or area that has a moderate or well-balanced supply of water within.

Mesic forest at Sierra Nororiental, Puebla

The presence of water to allow for a habitat to be labeled as mesic can arise from a number of outside factors. A handful of the processes that allow for this moderate moisture content to remain constant during crucial growing periods include streams and their offshoots, wet meadows, springs, seeps, irrigated fields, and high-elevation habitats. These factors effectively provide drought insurance during the growing season as climate factors such as increasing temperatures, lack of rain, and especially urbanization in today's current light.

Other habitat types, such as mesic hammocks, occupy the middle ground between bottomlands and sandhills or clay hills. These habitats can often be governed by oaks, hickories, and magnolias. However, there are some habitats that exhibit adaptations to fire. Natural Pinelands can persist in conjunction with mesic (moderately drained) or hydric but can also include mesic clay.

Healthy mesic habitats can store large amounts of water given the typical rich loamy soil composition[1] and streams, springs, etc. This allows the entire habitat to essentially function like a sponge storing water in such a way that it can be deposited to neighboring habitats as needed. This supply helps to capture, store, and slowly release water. This supply aids in nutrient facilitation, bolstering community interactions.

Mesic habitats are common in dryer regions of the western United States, such as the Great Basin, Great Plains, and the Rocky Mountains.[2] This allows for these habitats to become good water sources for neighboring dry climates and desert habitats. Healthy mesic habitats can provide extensive benefits to surrounding communities and habitats for both biotic and abiotic factors. This boost in reserve water allows for ecological processes to commence and provide balance and nutrients for energy to flow through the ecosystem at hand.

A key plant species that reside within mesic habitats is the Forb which provides a strong source of food for many species within these habitats. This plant provides food for many avian species but mostly for the Ruffed Grouse.[3] This species of bird is federally protected due to declining populations as the result of urbanization and loss of habitat. These habitats play an important role in the distribution abundance of sage grouse, influencing where they choose their breeding grounds, or leks.[4]

Mesic habitats are under stress from various human activities such as ranching, however many conservation efforts are underway. As of 2010, over 1,474 ranchers have agreed to partner with the Sage Grouse Initiative under the U.S. Department of Agriculture in order to protect over 5.6 million acres of mesic habitat.[5] The Working Lands for Wildlife organization has developed an interactive app to visualize mesic resources. The SGI Interactive Web App provides users with local conservation efforts across the entire range of sage grouse.[6] Preservation of mesic habitats will promote stability and success within the established ecosystem.