Okoboji Wetlands

Okoboji Wetlands
Author: Michael J. Lannoo
Publisher: University of Iowa Press
Total Pages: 191
Release: 1996-05-01
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 1587291290

Lake Okoboji in northwest Iowa is the jewel of the Iowa Great Lakes. A region of wetlands formed by prairie potholes, the area is rich with lakes, sloughs, fens, creeks, prairies, and kettleholes. In this readable and beautifully illustrated volume, Michael Lannoo presents an extensive natural history of Okoboji and its cherished wetlands that examines that world of our grandparents, compares it to today's world, and extrapolates to the world of our grandchildren.

The World's Largest Wetlands

The World's Largest Wetlands
Author: Lauchlan H. Fraser
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 512
Release: 2005-06-10
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 9780521834049

Experts share their understanding of the ecology of large wetlands, their significance and their conservation.

Wildflowers and Other Plants of Iowa Wetlands, 2nd Edition

Wildflowers and Other Plants of Iowa Wetlands, 2nd Edition
Author: Sylvan T. Runkel
Publisher: University of Iowa Press
Total Pages: 401
Release: 2014
Genre: Gardening
ISBN: 1609382854

Originally published in 1999, Wildflowers and Other Plants of Iowa Wetlands was the first book to focus on the beauty and diversity of the wetland plants that once covered 1.5 million acres of Iowa. Now this classic of midwestern natural history is back in print with a new format and all-new photographs, just as Iowa’s wetlands are getting the respect and attention they deserve. In clear and accessible prose, authors Sylvan Runkel and Dean Roosa provide common, scientific, and family names; the Latin or Greek meaning of the scientific names; habitat and blooming times; and a complete description. Plants are presented by habitat (terrestrial or aquatic), then refined by habit (e.g., emergent, floating, or submerged) or taxonomic group (e.g., ferns and allies or trees, shrubs, and vines). Particularly interesting is the information on the many ways in which Native Americans and early pioneers used these plants for everything from pain relief to tonics to soup and the ways that wildlife today use them for food and shelter. Each of the more than 150 species accounts is accompanied by a brilliant full-page color photograph by botanist Thomas Rosburg, who has also updated the nomenclature and descriptions for certain species. After decades of being considered an enemy of the settler, the farmer, and the citizen, Iowa’s wetlands have come into their own. We are finally caring for these important habitats. Runkel and Roosa’s updated field companion will be a valuable guide to today’s preservation and restoration initiatives.

The Biology of Freshwater Wetlands

The Biology of Freshwater Wetlands
Author: Arnold G. van der Valk
Publisher: OUP Oxford
Total Pages: 296
Release: 2012-02-09
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0191626767

Global wetlands exhibit significant differences in both hydrology and species composition and range from moss-dominated arctic peatlands to seasonally-flooded tropical floodplains. They are increasingly recognized for the important services that they provide to both the environment and human society such as wildlife and fish production, nutrient filtering, and carbon sequestration. A combination of low oxygen levels and dense plant canopies present particular challenges for organisms living in this aquatic habitat. This concise textbook discusses the universal environmental and biological features of wetland habitats, with an emphasis on wetland plants and animals and their adaptations. It also describes the functional features of wetlands - primary production, litter decomposition, food webs, and nutrient cycling - and their significance locally and globally. The future of wetlands is examined, including the potential threats of global climate change and invasive species, as well as their restoration and creation. This new edition maintains the structure and style of the first, but is fully updated throughout with new chapters on invasive species, restoration/creation, global climate change, and the value of wetlands.

Take the Next Exit

Take the Next Exit
Author: Robert F. Sayre
Publisher: University of Iowa Press
Total Pages: 360
Release: 2000-08
Genre: Biography & Autobiography
ISBN: 9781587295553