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The general characteristics of prairie pothole invertebrates and the dynamic nature of prairie wetlands warrant special consideration to facilitate effective research and conservation efforts. The critical roles that climate and parent geology has on wetland hydrology, hydroperiods, chemistry, and ultimately the biota needs to be considered by both managers and scientists. Taxa that utilize prairie wetlands face seasonal dewatering, increasing osmotic tensions as salts concentrate, and winter temperatures that solidly freeze many prairie wetlands. On a broader temporal scale, invertebrates must be able to maintain populations in the face of long-term drought that often results in many wetlands being entirely dry. Recolonization often occurs from limited refugia, and many different adaptations have enabled invertebrates to withstand the rigors of the PPR.

It is important that researchers and managers work within a framework that considers the impact of the dynamic climate, hydrology, and chemistry on prairie wetland biota. Studies or conservation efforts that do not consider the spatial variability of wetlands (i.e. different chemical and biological characteristics of wetlands due to different hydrologic functions) will have a low probability of yielding satisfactory results as will efforts that do not consider temporal variability (i.e., annual freezing, seasonal drawdowns, and widespread drawdowns in relation to long-term drought). Because the normal wet/dry cycle of the PPR is on a 10-20 year schedule (Duvick and Blasing 1981, Karl and Koscielny 1982, Karl and Riebsame 1984, Diaz 1983, 1986), it is clear that long-term research projects are needed to develop a complete understanding of how these systems function and how wetland invertebrates respond. Alternatively, researchers conducting shorter-term studies need to carefully define the class of wetland(s) studied, their basic chemical characteristics (a measure of salinity at a minimum), their vegetative characteristics, and if possible, their hydrologic function. Finally they need to define the time frame of their studies within the context of the wet/dry cycle.

Likewise, managers of prairie wetlands need to manage their wetlands within the context of the long-term drought cycle. Periodic drawdown and oxidation of sediments is a natural process that is necessary to maximize the overall productivity of prairie wetlands. Managed wetlands are frequently drawn down to enhance production for waterfowl populations (Cook and Powers 1958, Fredrickson and Taylor 1982, Kadlec and Smith 1992). Such management also benefits invertebrates when wetlands are reflooded, due to nutrient release and its effect on primary production. Additionally, vegetation growing in dry wetland basins provides an additional source of nutrients, substrate, and fresh carbon for the detritus pool when reflooded. Despite this knowledge, however, most restored and constructed wetlands in the PPR do not have water control structures and hence are totally dependent upon natural wet/dry cycles to rejuvenate wetland productivity. In addition, many managed wetlands that have water control structures are not drawn down frequently enough to mimic the natural drought cycle and enhance productivity of invertebrates and other biota (Leigh Fredrickson, personal communication). Others, such as the Delta Marsh in south-central Manitoba, have stabilized water levels that have resulted in reduced wetland productivity and value as wildlife habitat (Batt in press.). Future research and management of PPR wetlands needs to focus more intensively on maximizing wetland functions, including the production of aquatic invertebrates, to offset prior wetland losses (Bellrose and Low 1978).