Other Factors

1. Agricultural disturbances draining grazing/trampling unless severe  higher species diversity, more complex distribution patterns, sharper boundaries between zones wind and water erosion runoff  sedimentation/suspended solids algal blooms Other Factors

3. Burning common in many wetland ecosystems removes accumulated litter releases nutrients may reduce trapping of snow  local hydrology impact on species composition variable (frequency and severity) Other Factors 2

5. Attributes important to wildlife: predominance of woody plant communities often only wooded habitats remaining predominance of mast-producing species presence of surface water and abundant soil moisture diversity and interspersion of habitats corridors for dispersal and migration Animal Communities

6. Why is there interest in wetland invertebrates? Functional roles within wetland habitats herbivores predators detritivores decomposition nutrient cycling Pest insects nuisance insects and disease transmission mosquitoes, horse flies, deer flies, punkies Wetland Invertebrates

7. Food chain support major links from primary producers/detritus to higher consumers food resource for waterfowl to meet nutritional requirements for reproduction growth of ducklings differences in invertebrate consumption among waterfowl species, seasons, habitats, and availability food resource for other marsh wildlife other marsh birds, e.g. blackbirds, marsh wrens, shorebirds other insectivorous birds around the marsh amphibians, reptiles, mammals and fish interactions between waterfowl and fish Wetland Invertebrates 2

9. Highly dynamic nature of prairie pothole wetlands need to consider important hydrologic, chemical, and climatic events Habitats occupied by aquatic invertebrates permanent wetland habitats benthic (bottom) epiphytic (plant-associated) nekton (limnetic, pelagic, planktonic—swimming) neuston (surface) aerial (flying insects—emergence) ephemeral habitats Invertebrate Communities

10. Habitat conditions water levels (hydrology) temporary (seasonal) habitats timing and duration of flooding water quality salinity, oxygen, temperatures vegetation (habitat structure) biotic factors (predation/competition) fish and waterfowl human impacts habitat destruction, pesticides, sedimentation Factors Controlling Invertebrates

11. Invertebrate requirements evolved life history characteristics physiological, morphological and behavioral adaptations Seasonality/Abundance Wetland Management water manipulation drawdown and reflooding vegetation manipulation fire, mowing, rototilling Factors Controlling Invertebrates 2

12. Huge importance to fish communities food, both invertebrates and plants/vegetation safety from predation in backwater areas or unconnected wetlands seasonal connectivity to adjacent permanent water bodies critical Aquatic Communities

13. Fish life very limited due to: isolation short hydroperiod low DO in summer and winter shallow wetlands nearly or completely freeze in winter Few native spp. (e.g., fathead minnow, common mummichog, and brook stickleback) can tolerate low DO and high conductivities ([SO4-2] and [HCO3-]) found in shallow wetlands have high reproductive rates Consequently, valuable for amphibian and invertebrate reproduction can get in to breed and then get out (or diapause) Wetlands—Fish

14. Amazonian Lungfish

15. Wetlands often used to secure food, reproduce, find shelter Amphibians prefer temporary and seasonal wetlands to reproduce no fish predation need 3+ months from egg-laying to metamorphosis tiger salamander (Ambystoma) larvae densities >5,000/ha tadpoles consume inverts and are eaten by variety of avian and mammalian predators IN: 19 salamander spp., 13 frogs and toads, 11 turtles, and several spp. of snakes regularly utilize shallow wetlands SC: (Four Holes Swamp): 17 salamanders, 21 frogs and toads, 10 turtles, 9 lizards, 31 snakes, and 1 alligator Wildlife—Herptiless

22. Waterfowl use of shallow wetlands ephemeral wetlands good feeding areas during migration, early nesting due to flooded grains, seeds, and earthworms invertebrates limited due to short water period temporary wetlands early ice out and warm up  early supply of inverts invertebrates very important to female waterfowl prior to and during egg laying; provide protein, Ca also provide isolated areas for breeding pairs Wildlife Benefits—Birds

23. seasonal wetlands major source of invertebrates for laying females isolated areas for breeders provide sites for over-water nesters wet years: provides brood habitat Wildlife Benefits—Birds

24. semipermanent wetlands best all around; supply most needs of common waterfowl and broods last to be ice-free; delay on invertebrates main general habitat for staging and fall migration principal breeding areas for diving ducks equal parts open water and emergent vegetation (“hemi-marsh”) ideal Wildlife Benefits—Birds

27. Wide variety utilize wetlands muskrat, beaver, nutria, mink, otter, raccoon, red fox, coyote, and many small rodents, shrews, etc. “Those who often criticize the preservation of wetlands cite that many protected wetlands dry up after a few weeks or by mid-summer and state that they are of little value to wildlife. On the contrary, we can show they are quite valuable to many wildlife species at varying times and for varying reasons.” Wildlife Benefits—Mammals

29. Agricultural value of farmland has tremendously impacted wetland ecosystems wetland drainage (both surface and tile) to enhance agricultural production has been primary factor resulting in loss of wetlands in many regions remaining wetlands are impacted by a number of agricultural practices that result in elevated sedimentation rates, drift of agricultural chemicals into wetlands, large inputs of nutrients, unnatural variance in water-level fluctuation, and altered vegetative communities major nonagricultural impacts include alteration of hydrologic and chemical regimes due to road construction and urban development extent to which land use has altered ecology of aquatic biota is poorly studied but must be understood to facilitate effective management of remaining wetlands Landuse Influences

30. Wetland Restoration

38. Wetland hydrology (directly and indirectly) influences sediment texture, microtopographic relief, moisture gradients, redox reactions, hydric soils, and vegetation important implictions for fish and wildlife management major consequences for wetland restoration Wetland restoration based upon identification of areas where wetlands previously occurred (hydric soils). Conclusions

40. Paul J. DuBowy, Ph.D. Ecohydrology Associates, LLC P.O. Box 816 Lovell, Wyoming 82431 USA ecohydrology.associates@gmail.com