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Shell Rock River Basin Ecosystem
Shell Rock River Basin Ecosystem
Human Impacts
Impact on plant density and diversity.
200 years ago area was tall grass prairie with transition forest along the river and its tributaries. Today humans farm 90 plus % of the area with mostly row crops and urban impact a small portion also. As a result the diversity of vegetation and density has been greatly reduced.
Impact on animal diversity and diversity
The impact has been even more dramatic with the loss of large buffalo herds, the common animals found in prairie. Even recent removal of fences and border areas has shown the loss of species like the pheasant etc. Other species have adapted such as white tail deer which is managed by controlled hunting authorized by the DNR.
Disturbance events
The most notable disturbance events that occur in this river basin are floods. Recent floods have up rooted much vegetation and move tons of topsoil etc. Other events that have occurred in recent history have included severe drought and extremely cold winters. These affect on the habitat and wildlife have been varied. The cold having the most extreme effect on the populations of wildlife with lack of food and death during winter months. The droughts and floods stress the environment but have less effect on the wildlife populations.
The greatest disturbance in the past 160 years has been the introduction of human agriculture and the conversion of tall grass prairies and transition forest areas to modern crop land.
Climate
The Shell Rock River Basin is mostly growing zone 5a.
Ron Zelle
Available natural resources
Water is an abundant recourse close to the river. Ice will cover the river but will flow year round. Seasonal rains and snow melt provide the water to the rest of the eco system. The area receives 25-30 inches of precipitation per year.
Air quality is good and seldom a problem for the flora and fauna of the area.
Land use is highly agricultural which limits wildlife that have adapted to the production agriculture of the area. Large areas of wooded and natural vegetation do exist near the river and provide for natural habitat for wildlife.
The area is predominately corn and soybean production with some forages, CRP and other agriculture and non agriculture uses.
Urban areas also are found regularly along the river.
Dominate Animal Species in the Ecosystem
raccoon, crappie, minnow, field mouse, white tail deer
Dominate plant species in the Ecosystem
Green algae, Duckweed, Field corn, soybeans and forages as well as a wide range of hard and soft wood trees and herbaceous shrubs.
Shell Rock River Basin
The Shell Rock River basin is located in North Central Iowa where its mouth joins the Cedar River near Janesville Iowa and extends northward past the Minnesota boarder where it begins at Albert Lee lake.