Across the country, wetland habitat has been converted to different types of land uses causing massive loss of species abundance in the process. In Ohio, we have lost over 90% of the original wetland habitat because we converted it mostly to agriculture use. In the past 20 years, many organizations including state government agencies have worked to acquire and/or restore this habitat. Aside from the obvious measures that they have taken, what else can they focus on to help meet their goal? The answer is fish!
First, let me explain how wetlands are functionally important for many reasons. They are known as Earth’s “kidney’s” because they take the contaminants out of upland water and then this water continues down to other waterways. They help prevent flooding by taking in extra water. They provide habitat to some of the most diverse ecosystems, which helps enhance the aesthetic value of the land.
Fish, as a whole, are very important to the wetland ecosystem. Without being species specific, they are a major component in the food web. Fish are a major prey source for many species and they also are a main predator of invertebrates. If taken out of the wetland habitat, there would be major consequences for predators on fish. The invertebrate populations would get out of control and they would eventually eat everything they could, which would have negative effects downward. The wetland habitat could collapse.
Not only are fish extremely important to wetlands, but fish need wetlands to survive as well! Many ocean and sea fishes use mangroves and other coastal marshes to lay their eggs in. The cover of vegetation helps provide protection against predators and currents. When the eggs hatch, the juveniles are also able to feed easier on the vegetation or invertebrates available. Without these coastal marshes, fishes in Lake Erie would not be successful at reproducing. Fishes also use seasonal wetlands to disperse to other waterways and breed. When the seasonal wetlands do not last as long, are not as deep, or dry up completely, these fish populations are then isolated and are not able to disperse, i.e. they lose gene flow.
By protecting and restoring wetlands, recreational fisherman and commercial fisherman have a better chance at continuing to catch and do what they love. But, with everything, there is a downside. With increased wetlands and waterway connections come increased invasability by some of the fish that we don’t want in Ohio. I’m looking at you, Common Carp. As always, be sure to identify what you catch correctly. If it is a Paddlefish or Sturgeon: throw it back; if it is a Common Carp or a Sea Lamprey: take it to your ranger.
Henning, J. A., et. Al. (2007). Use of seasonal freshwater wetlands by fishes in a temporal river floodplain. Journal of Fish Biology, 71:476:492
Johnson, David J., et al. (1997). Fish Communities in a Dike Lake Erie Wetland and An Adjacent Undiked Area. Wetlands, 17:43:54
Office of Environment and Heritage. (2017, October 24). Fish In Wetlands. Retrieved from http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/water/wetlands/plants-and-animals-in-wetlands.
United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2017, February 27). Why are Wetlands Important? Retrieved from https://www.epa.gov/wetlands/why-are-wetlands-important.