Iowa’s Aquatic Life

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.

Iowa-Relevant Aquatic WILD Activities

Activities with supplemental information are linked below.

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)

Supplemental Resources

  • Iowa’s Nature Series – Aquatic EnvironmentsFrom the ephemeral pool of a prairie pothole to the giant pools of the mighty Mississippi, Iowa’s lands are defined by their diverse, and critically important aquatic ecosystems. 

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.

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.

Vertebrates

  • Iowa’s Nature Series – VertebratesFrom city sewers to pristine prairies, the reptiles, amphibians, birds, mammals, fish, and lamprey found within Iowa’s borders are as diverse and fascinating as the people found there.

Fish

Amphibians and Reptiles

  • Iowa HerpNetOnline field guide to amphibians and reptiles found in Iowa

Birds

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