Wetlands of the Prairie Pothole Region
Invertebrate Species Composition, Ecology, and Management
by
Ned H. Euliss, Jr., Dale A. Wrubleski, and David M. Mushet
The Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) of the United States and Canada is a unique area where shallow depressions created by the scouring action of Pleistocene glaciation interact with mid-continental climate variations to create and maintain a variety of wetland classes. These wetlands possess unique environmental and biotic characteristics that add to the overall regional diversity and production of aquatic invertebrates and the vertebrate wildlife that depend upon them as food. Climatic extremes in the PPR have a profound and dynamic influence on wetland hydrology, hydroperiod, chemistry, and ultimately the biota. Available knowledge of aquatic invertebrates in the PPR suggests that diversity of invertebrates within each wetland class is low. Harsh environmental conditions range from frigid winter temperatures that freeze wetlands and their sediments to hot summer temperatures and drought conditions that create steep salinity gradients and seasonally dry habitats. Consequently, the invertebrate community is composed mostly of ecological generalists that possess the necessary adaptations to tolerate environmental extremes. In this review, we describe the highly dynamic nature of prairie pothole wetlands and suggest that invertebrate studies be evaluated within a conceptual framework that considers important hydrologic, chemical, and climatic events.
This resource is based on the following source (Northern Prairie Publication 1050):
Euliss, Ned H., Jr., David M. Mushet, and Dale A. Wrubleski. 1999. Wetlands
of the Prairie Pothole Region: Invertebrate Species Composition, Ecology,
and Management. Pages 471-514 in D. P. Batzer, R. B. Rader and S. A.
Wissinger, eds. Invertebrates in Freshwater Wetlands of North America:
Ecology and Management, Chapter 21. John Wiley & Sons, New York.
This resource should be cited as:
Euliss, Ned H., Jr., David M. Mushet, and Dale A. Wrubleski. 1999. Wetlands
of the Prairie Pothole Region: Invertebrate Species Composition, Ecology,
and Management. Pages 471-514 in D. P. Batzer, R. B. Rader and S. A.
Wissinger, eds. Invertebrates in Freshwater Wetlands of North America:
Ecology and Management, Chapter 21. John Wiley & Sons, New York.
Jamestown, ND: Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center Online.
http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/1999/pothole/pothole.htm
(Version 02SEP99).
Table of Contents
Figures
- Figure 21.1 -- Prairie Pothole Region
- Figure 21.2 -- Common Wetland Classes in the Prairie Pothole Region
- Figure 21.3 -- Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios at the Woodworth Study Area, ND
Downloading Instructions -- Instructions on downloading and extracting files from this site.
pothole.zip (340K bytes) -- Wetlands of the
Prairie Pothole Region: Invertebrate Species Composition, Ecology, and Management
Installation: Extract all files and open pothole.htm in a web browser.
