Aquatic Invertebrates of Freshwater Wetlands: Function and Ecology

Abstract

Most research effort in wetland ecology to date has focused on economically important game animals, furbearers, and fish. Recent advances in our understanding of food chain support, nutrient cycling, and overall productivity of freshwater wetlands has drawn increasing attention to the importance of aquatic invertebrates in the ecology and function of these systems (Murkin and Batt, 1987). The objectives of this chapter are to review the biological values of aquatic invertebrates and to examine factors affecting invertebrate distribution and abundance in freshwater wetlands.