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Prairie Potholes

Prairie Potholes. Wetlands of the Mid-West. Allison Samuel. Prairie potholes . According to the EPA, they are fresh water marshes formed in the depressions of the landscape by receding glaciers. Prairie Potholes. Location. Prairie potholes are found in a small part of the upper Midwest

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Prairie Potholes

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  1. Prairie Potholes Wetlands of the Mid-West Allison Samuel

  2. Prairie potholes According to the EPA, they are fresh water marshes formed in the depressions of the landscape by receding glaciers

  3. Prairie Potholes

  4. Location • Prairie potholes are found in a small part of the upper Midwest • With a larger portion located in the middle region of Canada

  5. Characteristics • Movement of water dependent on the water table • forming rich soils which are deposited as water flows though the pothole

  6. Characteristics continued • Contribute to warm summers that are usually cool • Form many shallow lakes and ponds • Habitat for 50% of the nation’s migratory birds • They absorb flood waters

  7. Biota • The potholes are important breeding grounds for waterfowl • The potholes are habitat for mammals such as: • beavers • coyote • red fox • raccoon • American badger • striped skunk • mink • ermine • long-tailed weasel

  8. Biota Mallard duck beavers wood duck

  9. Biota long-tailed weasel ermine American badger

  10. Status • Prairie potholes have been negatively affected by agriculture. • They have been altered or destroyed altogether. • About 50% of this type of wetland habitat has been destroyed • Still it is considered one of the most important wetlands in the world

  11. Threats • Agriculture - destruction for farmland • Global Change - causing the potholes to dry up • Urbanization - the increase of human population

  12. Special Thanks to… • www.epa.gov • www.lib.ndsu.nodak.edu

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