Plants, animals, and other life forms have adapted to live and reproduce in aquatic habitats. Iowa’s waters are home to thousands of plant and animal species. This section provides a brief introduction to the different types found in our waters.
Plants
Aquatic plants are essential in aquatic ecosystems. They provide oxygen, food, shelter, and protect shorelines and stream banks from eroding. They have a variety of adaptations to living in, on or near water and are divided into several groups.
- Minnesota Department of Natural Resources: Aquatic Plants – Information about aquatic plants. Broken into groups – algae, emergent plants, floating-leaf plants, and submerged plants.
- Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR): Aquatic Invasive Plants – Pictures and descriptions of aquatic invasive plants (with pdf downloads).
- Iowa DNR: Aquatic Plants in Iowa Ponds – Detailed information about aquatic plants you will find in Iowa ponds. Includes recommendations for what to grow and what not to grow in farm ponds.
Animals
Invertebrates
Invertebrates are the least conspicuous, but most abundant, animal group. They range in size from microscopic to larger than a baseball. Invertebrates found in Iowa waters range from freshwater sponges to worms and crustaceans (scuds, copepods, and crayfish), mollusks (mussels and snails), arachnids (spiders, ticks, and mites), and insects.
- Illinois Department of Natural Resources: Mussels – Main page for mussel information. Includes links to photos, life history, conservation, etc…
- Freshwater Mussels of Iowa – Mussels of Iowa information guide (pdf). Includes history, life cycle, conservation, and common mussels found in Iowa.
- Iowa Wildlife Series: Iowa Insects, Spiders, and Other Invertebrates – Iowa Association of Naturalists publication about the insects, spiders, and other invertebrates that live in Iowa.
- Iowa’s Aquatic Macroinvertebrates – Photos and distribution maps of aquatic macroinvertebrates found in Iowa.
- Aquatic MacroInvertebrate Collection demonstration project, see also the Resources Page – Carnegie Museum of Natural History
Vertebrates
Fish
- Iowa DNR: Iowa Fish Species – Fish families and species found in Iowa.
- Iowa Wildlife Series: Iowa Fish – Iowa Association of Naturalists publication about fish in Iowa.
Amphibians
- Iowa HerpNet – Online field guide to amphibians and reptiles found in Iowa
- Iowa Wildlife Series: Iowa Reptiles and Amphibians – Iowa Association of Naturalists publication about the reptiles and amphibians that live in Iowa.
Reptiles
- Iowa HerpNet – Online field guide to amphibians and reptiles found in Iowa
- Iowa Wildlife Series: Iowa Reptiles and Amphibians – Iowa Association of Naturalists publication about the reptiles and amphibians that live in Iowa.
Birds
- Iowa Ornithologist Union: Iowa Birds & Birding – Information about birding and birds found in Iowa.
- Iowa Wildlife Series: Iowa Winter Birds – Iowa Association of Naturalists publication about birds that stay or visit Iowa during the winter months.
- Iowa Wildlife Series: Iowa Nesting Birds – Iowa Association of Naturalists publication about birds that nest in Iowa.
- Iowa Breeding Bird Atlas 2008-2012 – Data and information from the second Breeding Bird Atlas project in Iowa.
Mammals
Many small mammals are associated with aquatic habitats. Mice, voles, and shrews can be found tunneling through grass at the water’s edge. Several species of bats can be seen in foraging flights for insects over water in the evenings. Beaver, muskrat, and river otters are larger mammals that are closely linked to water.
- Iowa Wildlife Series: Iowa Mammals – Iowa Association of Naturalists publication about the mammal species found in Iowa.
- Polk County Conservation Board: Iowa Mammals – General information about mammals and the mammals that live in Iowa.
Activities listed below are from the Aquatic WILD guide and relevant to Iowa. Activities with supplemental information are linked below. Use the supplemental information in conjunction with the Aquatic WILD activity.
- Aquatic Roots (6-8)
- Are You Me? (K-2)
- Blue Ribbon Niche (3-5, 6-8)
- Designing a Habitat (3-5, 6-8)
- Edge of Home (3-5, 6-8)
- Fashion a Fish (K-s, 3-5)
- Fishy Who’s Who (3-5, 6-8)
- Marsh Munchers (3-5)
- Micro Odyssey (3-5, 6-8)
- Migration Headache (6-8)
- Puddle Wonders! (6-8)
- Riparian Retreat (3-5)
- Water Canaries (6-8, 9-12)
- Water Plant Art (K-2, 3-5)
- Water We Eating? (3-5)
- Wetland Metaphors (3-5)