As a lower link on the food chain, invertebrates (animals without a backbone) of all types are a necessary source of nutrition for many different species.
They range from tiny plankton to crayfish and snails to dragonflies. Many invertebrates are herbivores and feed on decaying plant material.
These species are considered the link between wetland plants and larger animals.
However, poor water quality at Second Marsh, sediment resuspension by carp, and high nutrient and sediment loading have all contributed to a significant decrease in aquatic invertebrate diversity. The Ducks Unlimited restoration and rehabilitation project that diverted Harmony Creek from directly entering the Marsh has had a positive impact on the variety of these invertebrates to produce a more diverse wildlife community.
