The Aquatic Macroinvertebrates and Fish
of RDL

The 100 acre plus semi-permanent wetland/pond is one of the focal points of the property. Along with many animals, it attracts a wide variety of waterfowl and shorebirds to the property to feed. Cattail and bulrush beds, two islands and the encircling ring of willows and emergent vegetation provide habitat for a large numbers of nesting waterfowl and other birds. A series of smaller wetlands with wet phases lasting from a few weeks after spring runoff to many years are also found on the property. Some of these wetlands undoubtedly will be aestival (freezing to the bottom during winter). The larger, deeper wetlands will have water under the ice throughout the winter thus providing habitat for beaver, muskrats and a number of types of aquatic macroinvertebrates that can not tolerate being frozen. At least two small temporary streams are present on the property. Neither appears to last long enough to develop a true running water habitat and macroivertebrate community. As well, during spring and flooding many of the wetlands become interconnected for short periods when they overflow their banks.

The wetlands of the property have a rich fauna of aquatic macroinvertebrates. It is expected that over 130 species of aquatic insects will be recorded from the wetlands. The aquatic insects form an important link between the productivity of the wetland and the terrestrial environment. Mass emergences of adult insects such as mosquitoes, midges, mayflies, dragonflies and damselflies, and caddisflies provide significant pulses of food for waterfowl and other insect feeding birds at critical stages during their life cycles. The large population of frogs on the property also feast on the insects emerging from the ponds. Other aquatic macroinvertebrates such as snails, leeches and amphipods are important components of the aquatic food web and are important food for many waterfowl and shorebirds.

After extensive flooding in 2010 and 2011 fathead minnows were found in the temporary stream that feeds into the main wetland and schools of minnows were subsequently observed in the main wetland. The minnows will likely add a link to the aquatic food web and may make the wetland more attractive to some species of birds that prey on them.

Fish

  • Fathead Minnow (Pimephales promelas)

    • Aquatic Insects

    Mayflies (Ephemeroptera)

  • Baetidae
  • Caenidae

    • Dragonflies & Damselflies (Odonata)

  • Coenagrionidae
  • Lestidae
  • Aeshnidae
  • Libellulidae

    • True Bugs (Hemiptera)

  • Water striders (Gerridae)
  • Water boatman (Corixidae)
  • Backswimmers (Notonectidae)

    • Caddisflies (Trichoptera)

  • Hydroptilidae
  • Leptoceridae
  • Limnephilidae
  • Phryganeidae
  • Polycentropodidae

    • Beetles (Coleoptera)

  • Diving Beetles (Dysticidae)
  • Whirligig Beetles (Gyrinidae)
  • Crawling Beetles (Haliplidae)
  • Water-scavenging Beetles (Hydrophilidae)

    • Two-winged Flies (Diptera)

  • No-see-ums (Ceratopogonidae)
  • Non-biting Midges (Chironomidae)
  • Phantom Midges (Chaoboridae)
  • Mosquitoes (Culicidae)
  • Dixid Flies (Dixidae)
  • Horseflies & Deerflies (Tabanidae)
  • Soldier Flies (Stratiomyidae)
  • Snail-killing Flies (Sciomyzidae)
  • Crane Flies (Tipulidae)

    • Misc. Invertebrates

    Leeches (Hirudinea)

  • Glossiphonidae
  • Erpobdellidae

    • Snails and Clams (Mollusca)

  • Ramshorn Snails (Planorbidae)
  • Pond Snails (Lymnaeidae)
  • Tadpole Snails (Physidae)
  • Pea Clams (Sphaeriidae)

    Scuds, Waterfleas, Seed shrimps, etc. (Crustacea)

  • Scud (Taltrididae & Gammaridae)