Wetland Animals

Exercise II


Besides your reading for this week, another resource that provides a wealth of technical and non-technical information on biological resources of the Great Plains region (wetland or otherwise) is the Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center. From their main page, click "Biological Resources" on the left to access species accounts, checklists, and numerous other documents You can also find species information at eNature.com and the Animal Diversity Web. These are by no means the only sites with good information. To find more, all you have to do is look.

Provide complete answers or explanations for the following items.

  1. You can find many examples of species from all vertebrate groups (fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals) that are intimately linked to wetland habitats. Given the obvious necessity for fish, compare and contrast the remaining vertebrate groups relative to their dependence on wetlands. In other words, what do wetlands offer amphibians vs. reptiles vs. birds vs. mammals?

  2. Consider your response to question #1. How would you predict the destruction of wetlands would impact these vertebrate groups? Would you expect some groups to be more vulnerable to habitat destruction than others? Why or why not?

  3. What vertebrate species might you herald as "poster children" for the conservation of wetland systems? Why? (Hint: think real-world. What are people likely to rally behind?)

  4. Later in the semester we will take a field trip to Cheyenne Bottoms and Quivira National Wildlife Refuge. Make a list of 5 amphibians, 5 reptiles, 5 birds, and 5 mammals we might expect to see during our trip. (Hint: resources available on the above pages will help. Note the timing of birds in this area. Many species that use the wetlands are migratory, so be sure those on your list will actually be present in mid-late April.)

Turn in: Written answers (1-4). Please e-mail assignment to J.S. Aber (jaber@emporia.edu).

Return to wetland syllabus.