Prairie Pothole Wetland Food Web
Wetland
Temperate Grasslands, Savannas & Shrublands
Northern Great Plains — North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Saskatchewan, Manitoba
Description
The Prairie Pothole Region across the northern US and southern Canada contains millions of glacially formed wetlands that produce 50-80% of North America's ducks. These ephemeral to semi-permanent wetlands support invertebrate communities that provide essential protein for nesting waterfowl. Agricultural drainage has destroyed over half of the original potholes.
Trophic Pyramid
Level 5
Decomposers
Wetland bacteria
Chironomid larvae
Aquatic fungi
3 species
Level 4
Tertiary Consumers
Northern harrier
Mink
Red fox
3 species
Level 3
Secondary Consumers
Mallard
Northern pintail
Tiger salamander
3 species
Level 2
Primary Consumers
Fairy shrimp
Amphipods
Painted turtle
3 species
Level 1
Producers
Cattails
Smartweed
Algal mats
3 species
Apex Predators
Tertiary Consumers
Secondary Consumers
Primary Consumers
Producers
Key Interactions
- Invertebrate-rich potholes provide essential protein for egg-laying female ducks
- Wet-dry cycles concentrate and then disperse invertebrate populations
- Mink prey on nesting ducks and muskrats around pothole edges
- Drainage of potholes for agriculture eliminates breeding habitat for continental waterfowl