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A conceptual model for the assessment of depressional wetlands in the prairie pothole region

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Abstract

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's), Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP) is developing a landscape-level conceptual model to evaluate the condition of depressional (basin-type) wetlands in the prairie pothole region (PPR) of the United States. This effort is underway to determine the current condition of the Nation's wetlands and to track how it is improving or degrading over time, as well as to identify management priorities over major geographic areas. The depressional wetlands in the PPR were selected by EMAP both because of the importance of this region for waterfowl and because of the efforts currently being conducted by federal agencies and academic institutions in this region. The PPR provides nesting habitat for more than 15 species of ducks, and supports as much as half of the total production of dabbling and diving ducks in North America. Wetlands in this area became a vulnerable resource after extensive draineage in the 1800s. We propose a conceptual model that represents a framework for guiding the development of ecological indicators, research activities, and data collection for the evaluation of wetland conditions. In princple, this conceptual model is applicable to wetlands in any part of the world.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. South Florida Water Management District, 3301 Gun Club Rd., P.O. Box 24680, 33416-4680, West Palm Beach, FL, USA

    B. H. Rosen

  2. ManTech Environmental Research Services Corporation, U.S. EPA Environmental Research Laboratory, 200 SW 35th Street, 97333, Corvallis, OR, USA

    P. Adamus & H. Lal

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  1. B. H. Rosen
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  2. P. Adamus
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Rosen, B.H., Adamus, P. & Lal, H. A conceptual model for the assessment of depressional wetlands in the prairie pothole region. Wetlands Ecol Manage 3, 195–208 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00179836

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00179836

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