Wetlands Ecology
Wetlands are areas with seasonal or permanent shallow surface water or water-saturated soils. Wetlands are becoming an increasingly important environmental issue, as approx. 52% of our nation’s wetlands have been lost. We are now beginning to comprehend the valuable role of wetlands in water management, plant and animal biodiversity and global nutrient cycles.
In December 2001, BSU received a generous donation from the Katherine Neilson-Cram Foundation to create the George W. Nielson Endowed Chair of Wetlands Ecology within the Department of Biology. Dr. Richard Koch was hired in August 2002 to fulfill the goals of this endowment. Dr. Koch is cooperating with faculty and students in Aquatic Biology, Biology, and Environmental Sciences at BSU and with outside natural resource agencies to establish BSU as an internationally recognized institute for wetlands education, research, and management.
The Bemidji area is ideal for studying wetlands, since it has a large diversity of local wetland ecosystems, including bogs, fens, marshes, swamps, prairie potholes, lakes and rivers. BSU offers a unique opportunity for training experts in wetland ecology, delineation, management, and preservation. Through the George W. Nielson Endowed Chair, BSU is moving to the forefront in filling the demand for highly skilled wetland professionals needed by natural resource agencies.
Students wanting to emphasize wetlands in their studies can take wetlands-related courses as electives while majoring in Aquatic Biology, Biology, or Environmental Studies. Dr. Koch is currently working on creating 2 wetland specific curricula programs: 1) a Minor in Wetlands Ecology and 2) a Wetlands Emphasis of Study through our Aquatic Biology Major.
Wetlands-Related Courses at BSU
Wetlands Ecology, Wetland Delineation, Aquatic Plants, Aquatic Invertebrates, Entomology, Limnology, Readings in Aquatic Biology, Ichthyology, Fisheries Management, Soils, Ecosystem Ecology, Environmental Chemistry, Hydrogeology, Advanced Field Projects in Biology
Some Wetlands Projects Conducted at BSU
- Lakeshore restoration and re-vegetation on Lake Bemidji
- Fish and macroinvertebrate surveys in waters of the Big Bog in northern Minnesota
- Organic matter input from peatlands into adjacent lakes.
- Impacts of forest management policies on nutrient processing in small, forested
wetlands.
- Influence of prescribed burning of forested watersheds on aquatic plants.
- Diversity of algae and invertebrates living within fluids held by Pitcher-plants.
- Faunal communities associated with different wetland plant communities
Internships Related to Wetlands
- Minnesota DNR- Forested wetlands
- Beltrami County Soil and Water Conservation District (MN)- restoration of shoreline
vegetation
- USDA Forest Service - Movement of organic matter through forested watersheds