Abstract
We evaluated water-level fluctuation (maximum water depth — minimum water depth/catchment size) in 12 temporary, 12 seasonal, and 12 semipermanent wetlands equally distributed among landscapes dominated by tilled agricultural lands and landscapes dominated by grassland. Water levels fluctuated an average of 14.14 cm in wetlands within tilled agricultural landscapes, while water levels in wetlands within grassland landscapes fluctuated an average of only 4.27 cm. Tillage reduces the natural capacity of catchments to mitigate surface flow into wetland basins during precipitation events, resulting in greater water-level fluctuations in wetlands with tilled catchments. In addition, water levels in temporary and seasonal wetlands fluctuated an average of 13.74 cm and 11.82 cm, respectively, while water levels in semipermanent wetlands fluctuated only 2.77 cm. Semipermanent wetlands receive a larger proportion of their water as input from ground water than do either temporary or seasonal wetlands. This input of water from the ground has a stabilizing effect on water-levels of semipermanent wetlands. Increases in water-level fluctuation due to tillage or due to alteration of ground-water hydrology may ultimately affect the composition of a wetland’s flora and fauna. In this paper, we also describe an inexpensive device for determining absolute maximum and minimum water levels in wetlands.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature Cited
Bragg, O.M., P.D. Hulme, H.A.P. Ingram, J.P. Johnston, and A.I.A. Wilson. 1994. A maximum-minimum recorder for shallow water tables, developed for ecohydrological studies on mires Journal Applied Ecology 31:589–592.
Cowardin, L.M., V. Carter, F.C. Golet, and E.T. LaRoe. 1979. Classification of wetlands and deepwater habitats of the United States. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Biological Services, Washington, DC, USA. FWS/OBS-79/31.
Cowardin, L.M., D.H. Johnson, T.L. Shaffer, and D.W. Sparling. 1988. Applications of a simulation model to decisions in mallard management. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington, DC, USA. Technological Report 17.
Cowardin, L.M. and S.R. Peterson. 1995. Objectives of EMAP program. p. 2–10.In Final Report on pilot test of indicators of wetland condition. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Washington, DC, USA. (in press)
Dahl, T.E. 1990. Wetland losses in the United States 1780’s to 1980’s. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington, DC, USA.
Fellows, D.P. and T.K. Buhl. 1995. Research access to privately owned wetland basins in the Prairie Pothole Region of the United States. Wetlands 15:330–335.
Freeland A.F. and J.L. Richardson. 1995. Soils and sediments as indicators of agricultural impacts on northern prairie wetlands. p. 159–197.In Final Report on pilot test of indicators of wetland condition. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, USA. (in press)
Gruc, C.E., M.W. Tome, T.A. Messmer, D.B. Henry, G.A. Swanson, and L.R. DeWeese. 1989. Agricultural chemicals and prairie wetlands: meeting the needs of the resource and the farmer—U. S. perspective. Transactions North American Wildlife Natural Resources Conference 54:43–58.
Hutchinson, G.E. 1967. A Treatise on Limnology. Volume II. Introduction to Lake Biology and the Limnoplankton. John Wiley and Sons, New York, NY, USA.
LaBaugh, J.W., T.C. Winters, G.A. Swanson, D.O. Rosenberry, R.D. Nelson, and N.H. Euliss, Jr. 1996. Changes in atmosphere circulation patterns affect mid-continent wetlands sensitive to climate. Limnology and Oceanography 41:864–870.
Macan, T.T. 1961. Factors that limit the range of freshwater animal communities. Biological Revue 52:45–70.
Martin, D.B. and W.A. Hartman. 1987. The effect of cultivation on sediment and deposition in prairie pothole wetlands. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution 34:45–53.
Milliken, G.A. and D.E. Johnson. 1984. Analysis of Messy Data. Volume I. Designed Experiments. Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, New York, NY, USA.
Moyle, J.B. 1945. Some chemical factors influencing the distribution of aquatic plants in Minnesota. American Midland Naturalist 34:402–420.
National Research Council. 1982. Impacts of emerging agricultural trends on fish and wildlife habitat. National Academy Press. Washinton, DC, USA.
Potts, W.T.W. and G. Parry. 1964. Osmotic and Ionic Regulation in Animals. Pergamon Press, Oxford, England.
Richter K.O. 1995. A manual water level fluctuation gage to monitor wetland hydroperiod. Insert. In C. Botha (ed.) Society of Wetland Scientists Pacific Northwest Chapter Newsletter, December, Kirkland, WA, USA.
SAS Institute, Inc. 1989. SAS/STAT User’s Guide. Version 6. Cary, NC, USA.
Steel, R.G.D. and J.H. Torrie. 1980. Principles and Procedures of Statistics, a Biometrical Approach, second edition. McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York, NY, USA.
Stewart, R.E. and H.A. Kantrud. 1971. Classification of natural ponds and lakes in the glaciated prairie region. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Professional Paper 585-D.
Swanson, G.A. 1987. An introduction to the Cottonwood Lake area. Proceedings, North Dakota Academy of Science 41:25.
Tiner, R.W. 1984. Wetlands of the United States: current status and recent trends. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington, DC, USA.
van der Valk, A. (ed.). 1989. Northern Prairie Wetlands. Iowa State University Press, Ames, IA, USA.
Wetzel, R.G. 1983. Limnology, second edition. Saunders College Publishing, New York, NY, USA.
Winter, T.C. and M.R. Carr. 1980. Hydrologic setting of wetlands in the Cottonwood Lake area, Stutsman County, North Dakota. U.S. Geological Survey Water Resources Investigation 80–99.
Winter, T.C. and D.O. Rosenberry. 1995. The interaction of ground water with prairie pothole wetlands in the Cottonwood Lake area, east-central North Dakota, 1979–1990. Wetlands 15:193–211.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Euliss, N.H., Mushet, D.M. Water-level fluctuation in wetlands as a function of landscape condition in the prairie pothole region. Wetlands 16, 587–593 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03161350
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03161350