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If you’ve ever walked by a lake and seen ducks around, have you ever thought about the role they play in the environment?
Ducks are extremely important birds to their ecosystems. They are often found in wetlands and as they go about their daily routines, they’ll often move around to different wetland locations.1
As they do so, they can introduce plant species, or even animal species, such as frogs or fish, to another wetland location. They can do this through the dispersal of what they eat or by accidentally carrying another species to another location.1
When they introduce new species to another wetland location, they increase the biodiversity of the area. This connects the different wetlands and helps keep them healthier than they otherwise would have been.2
This is important because wetlands are important ecosystems to protect. They are extremely productive ecosystems and provide several benefits for us, including:3
- Generating revenue for states
- Providing recreation areas
- Purifying water sources
- Diminishing the severity of flooding
About 15% of all birds within North America need wetlands.3 So when wetlands are healthy, other species thrive, too. Through their role in maintaining ecosystem diversity, ducks help prevent these wetlands from becoming fragmented and isolated.2
What other bird species are you curious about?
Check out our resources on our website here to explore more about birds!
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