Wetlands have been called “biological supersystems” because they produce great volumes of food that support a remarkable level of biodiversity. The combination of shallow water, high levels of nutrients, and high primary productivity (the amount of biomass produced) is ideal for the development of organisms that form the essential base of our planet’s food web.

The food web supports myriad species of birds, fish, amphibians, shellfish, and insects. In Illinois, countless species depend on wetlands, including:

• 105 bird species depend upon, or are strongly associated with, wetlands in Illinois; an additional 169 bird species use wetlands in Illinois opportunistically for nesting, foraging, and resting.


• 46 of the 59 mammal species in Illinois use wetlands to some extent.


• 37 of the 41 amphibian species in Illinois depend upon wetlands at least part of the year.


• 47 of the 60 reptile species found in Illinois use wetlands to some extent.

Source: Illinois Department of Natural Resources and U.S. EPA

Read More