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Brian Tangen

Brian Tangen is an Ecologist with the USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center and works at the Lincoln, Nebraska duty station.

I began my professional career processing and identifying aquatic invertebrates and conducting a wide variety of field work for Northern Prairie's aquatics lab. I have worked in a variety of roles at Northern Prairie performing research focused on carbon and greenhouse gas cycling in wetland systems, wetland hydrology, wetland management, and effects of climate- and land-use change.

Professional Experience

  • Ecologist, USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Education and Certifications

  • M.S., Biological Sciences, North Dakota State University, 2001

  • B.A., Biology, Valley City State University, 1999

Affiliations and Memberships*

  • Society of Wetland Scientists

Science and Products

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Aerial photo of the prairie pothole region of North American

Mechanisms, models, and management of invasive species and soil biogeochemical process in prairie pothole wetlands

The ecological foundation of thousands of acres of wetland habitat is being impacted by changes in land cover, land use, climate, and invasive species. This project utilizes USGS remotely-sensed products, along with experimental and observational field data to develop spatially-explicit, landscape-scale models of invasive cattails and soil biogeochemical processes. These models will assist...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
link

Mechanisms, models, and management of invasive species and soil biogeochemical process in prairie pothole wetlands

The ecological foundation of thousands of acres of wetland habitat is being impacted by changes in land cover, land use, climate, and invasive species. This project utilizes USGS remotely-sensed products, along with experimental and observational field data to develop spatially-explicit, landscape-scale models of invasive cattails and soil biogeochemical processes. These models will assist...
Learn More
link
Map of Prairie Pothole Region

Science Team about Energy and Plains and Potholes Environments (STEPPE)

Brine Contamination to Plains and Potholes Environments from Energy Development in the Williston Basin
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center
link

Science Team about Energy and Plains and Potholes Environments (STEPPE)

Brine Contamination to Plains and Potholes Environments from Energy Development in the Williston Basin
Learn More
link
Photo of a drainage pipe being installed in wetland catchment.

Assessment of pattern tile drainage on wetland hydrology and ecosystem services in the Prairie Pothole Region

Prairie Pothole Region wetlands provide numerous ecological services to society such as wildlife habitat, water storage, and carbon sequestration. Agricultural production in the region has been enhanced through the expanded installation and use of subsurface drainage systems, but these systems may have a negative impact on the region’s wetlands, including those protected by conservation easements...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Land Management Research Program, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
link

Assessment of pattern tile drainage on wetland hydrology and ecosystem services in the Prairie Pothole Region

Prairie Pothole Region wetlands provide numerous ecological services to society such as wildlife habitat, water storage, and carbon sequestration. Agricultural production in the region has been enhanced through the expanded installation and use of subsurface drainage systems, but these systems may have a negative impact on the region’s wetlands, including those protected by conservation easements...
Learn More
link
Photo showing the collection of aquatic invertebrate samples.

Description of aquatic vegetation and invertebrate communities at Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge

Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge is situated within a riverine system where refuge wetlands receive sediment-laden inflows that have been associated with diminished plant communities and water quality conditions. Accordingly, improved habitat- and water-quality conditions have been recognized as overall management goals, and the collection of baseline biotic and abiotic data has been identified...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
link

Description of aquatic vegetation and invertebrate communities at Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge

Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge is situated within a riverine system where refuge wetlands receive sediment-laden inflows that have been associated with diminished plant communities and water quality conditions. Accordingly, improved habitat- and water-quality conditions have been recognized as overall management goals, and the collection of baseline biotic and abiotic data has been identified...
Learn More
Filter Total Items: 20

Water quality data from wetlands in North Dakota, USA, 2019

This data release describes data that were contributed to the Global Lakes Ecosystem Observation Network (GLEON) FunAqua project, a global data compilation effort. Goals of the FunAqua project are to document the drivers of global aquatic fungal diversity and determine the breadth of the niche of aquatic fungi locally, globally, and in relation to soil and leaves. Data contributed by the...
By
Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Greenhouse gas concentrations and water-quality parameters from experimental ponds in North Dakota, USA, 2019

This data release describes data that were contributed to the GasHype project, a global data compilation effort. Goals of the GasHype project include assessing concentrations of carbon dioxide and methane in the hypolimnion of lakes, reservoirs, and ponds, and identifying important drivers of these concentrations. Data contributed by the U.S. Geological Survey, Northern Prairie Wildlife...
By
Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Chemical and isotopic data from wetland pond water samples collected in the Cottonwood Lake Study Area, Stutsman County, North Dakota, USA, 2015–2019

This U.S. Geological Survey data release contains chemical, isotopic, and physical data from wetland pond water samples collected at the Cottonwood Lake Study Area, Stutsman County, North Dakota, USA. Samples were collected monthly during the growing season (April or May through September) in 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2019 and in August 2018. Temperature, specific conductance, and pH were...
By
Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Greenhouse gas fluxes and dissolved greenhouse gas concentrations from wetland soil microcosms treated with herbicides

This data release presents data from a laboratory microcosm study examining the potential effects of herbicide application on the production and flux of greenhouse gases from wetland soils. Wetland soils were placed into glass mason jars and covered with water. Microcosms were treated with varying concentrations (none, low, medium, high) and combinations of the herbicides glyphosate and...
By
Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Water and ice characteristics from Hobart Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Barnes County, North Dakota, USA, 2021

This data release presents data that were collected as part of a larger effort to refine knowledge pertaining to the origin, composition, and seasonality of dissolved organic matter in lakes. This work was part of an international collaborative effort with the Global Lake Ecological Observatory Network (GLEON). Water samples were collected monthly during 2021 and shipped to GLEON for...
By
Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Methane flux model for wetlands of the Prairie Pothole Region of North America: Model input data and programming code

This data release presents input data for plot- and landscape-scale models of Prairie Pothole Region wetland methane emissions as a function of explanatory variables and remotely sensed predictors. Field data for the plot- and landscape-scale models span the years 2003-2016 and 2005-2016, respectively. The data release also includes R programming code to run the generalized additive...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Dissolved oxygen, temperature, and light measured along the water-depth profile of wetlands in North Dakota, USA, 2019

This data release presents data that were collected as part of a larger effort to assess factors that regulate ecosystem metabolism in small ponds. This work was part of an international collaborative effort with the Global Lake Ecological Observatory Network (GLEON). From May to October 2019, dissolved oxygen, temperature, and light were measured throughout the water-depth profile of...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Properties of ice cores from Hobart Lake, North Dakota, USA, 2021

This data release presents data that were collected as part of a larger effort (Global Lake Ecological Observatory Network [GLEON] IceBlitz) to enhance understanding of the spatial and temporal variation in global lake ice properties. During January and February of 2021 ice cores were extracted from Hobart Lake, North Dakota, USA and characterized following standard procedures...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Carbon dioxide flux, vegetation, and soils data from artificial ponds in North Dakota, USA, 2021

This data release presents data that were collected as part of a larger effort to assess the carbon balance of recently exposed (i.e., no vegetation cover) wetland sediments. This work was part of an international collaborative effort associated with the Dryflux II project. During June and July 2021, data were collected from three artificial ponds located near Jamestown, North Dakota, to...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Dissolved oxygen concentrations, light penetration, and temperature along the water-depth profile of wetlands P1 and P8 of the Cottonwood Lake Study area in North Dakota, USA, 2019

This data release presents data that were collected as part of a larger effort to assess factors that regulate metabolism in global lakes, via an international collaboration with the Global Lake Ecological Observatory Network (GLEON). From May to August 2019, dissolved oxygen and light penetration were measured throughout the water-depth profile of two small inland wetlands at Cottonwood...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Soil profile characteristics of Prairie Pothole Region wetland catchments, 2004

A study was conducted during 2004 to examine soil carbon storage of Prairie Pothole Region wetland catchments. These data represent the soil profile descriptions performed during that study; the remaining data were published previously (https://doi.org/10.5066/F7KS6QG2). Soil profile descriptions were performed at 270 temporary, seasonal, and semipermanent wetland catchments distributed...
By
Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Genetic and morphologic characteristics of Typha (cattail) taxa of the Prairie Pothole Region of the United States (2018)

Cattail (Typha) is a common plant found throughout the Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) of the United State. Typha x glauca, a hybrid between Typha latifolia and Typha angustifolia, is considered an invasive species that has spread across the PPR, negatively impacting the regions important wetlands and other aquatic habitats. The distribution of the various cattail taxa, however, is not well...
By
Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
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Filter Total Items: 44

Visual interpretation of high-resolution aerial imagery: A tool for land managers

Remotely sensed imagery from various collection platforms (e.g., satellites, crewed and uncrewed aircraft) are used by biologists and other conservation personnel to support management activities ranging from monitoring invasive species to assessing land cover and vegetation characteristics. Although remote sensing–based vegetation indices and models have been developed and used for some...
Authors
Brian Tangen, Rebecca L. Esser, Benjamin A. Walker
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Practical guide to measuring wetland carbon pools and fluxes

Wetlands cover a small portion of the world, but have disproportionate influence on global carbon (C) sequestration, carbon dioxide and methane emissions, and aquatic C fluxes. However, the underlying biogeochemical processes that affect wetland C pools and fluxes are complex and dynamic, making measurements of wetland C challenging. Over decades of research, many observational...
Authors
Sheel Bansal, Irena F. Creed, Brian Tangen, Scott D. Bridgham, Ankur R. Desai, Ken Krauss, Scott C Neubauer, Gregory Noe, Donald O. Rosenberry, Carl C. Trettin, Kimberly Wickland, Scott T. Allen, Ariane Arias-Ortiz, Anna R. Armitage, Dennis Baldocchi, Kakoli Banerjee, David Bastviken, Peter Berg, Matthew J. Bogard, Alex T. Chow, William H. Conner, Christopher Craft, Courtney Creamer, Tonya Delsontro, Jamie Duberstein, Meagan J. Eagle, M. Siobhan Fennessey, Sarah A. Finkelstein, Mathias Goeckede, Sabine Grunwald, Meghan Halibisky, Ellen R. Herbert, Mohammad Jahangir, Olivia Johnson, Miriam C. Jones, Jeffrey Kelleway, Sarah Knox, Kevin D. Kroeger, Kevin Kuehn, David Lobb, Amanda Loder, Shizhou Ma, Damien Maher, Gavin McNicol, Jacob Meier, Beth A. Middleton, Christopher T. Mills, Purbasha Mistry, Abhijith Mitra, Courtney Mobilian, Amanda M. Nahlik, Sue Newman, Jessica O'Connell‬, Patty Oikawa, Max Post van der Burg, Charles Schutte, Chanchung Song, Camille Stagg, Jessica Turner, Rodrigo Vargas, Mark Waldrop, Markus Wallin, Zhaohui Aleck Wang, Eric Ward, Debra A. Willard, Stephanie A. Yarwood, Xiaoyan Zhu
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Florence Bascom Geoscience Center, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center, Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center , Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Large increases in methane emissions expected from North America’s largest wetland complex

Natural methane (CH4) emissions from aquatic ecosystems may rise because of human-induced climate warming, although the magnitude of increase is highly uncertain. Using an exceptionally large CH4 flux dataset (~19,000 chamber measurements) and remotely sensed information, we modeled plot- and landscape-scale wetland CH4 emissions from the Prairie Pothole Region (PPR), North America’s...
Authors
Sheel Bansal, Max Post van der Burg, Rachel Fern, John Jones, Rachel Lo, Owen P. McKenna, Brian Tangen, Zhen Zhang, Robert A. Gleason
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Lessons learned from wetlands research at the Cottonwood Lake Study Area, Stutsman County, North Dakota, 1967–2021

Depressional wetlands in the Prairie Pothole Region of North America have a long history of investigation owing to their importance in maintaining migratory-bird populations, especially waterfowl. One area of particularly intensive study is the Cottonwood Lake study area in Stutsman County, North Dakota. Studies at the Cottonwood Lake study area began in 1967 and continue through the...
Authors
David M. Mushet, Ned H. Euliss, Donald O. Rosenberry, James W. LaBaugh, Sheel Bansal, Zeno F. Levy, Owen P. McKenna, Kyle McLean, Christopher T. Mills, Brian P. Neff, Richard D. Nelson, Matthew J. Solensky, Brian Tangen
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Potential effects of energy development on environmental resources of the Williston Basin in Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota—Species of conservation concern

The ecosystems of the Williston Basin provide direct and indirect benefits to society. These benefits include carbon sequestration, flood control, nutrient rich soils for agricultural productivity, and habitat for wildlife. This chapter’s main focus is on the effects of energy development on species that occupy the ecosystems in the Williston Basin. We compiled a list of documented...
Authors
Max Post van der Burg, Amy J. Symstad, Lawrence D. Igl, David M. Mushet, Diane L. Larson, Glen A. Sargeant, David D. Harper, Aïda M. Farag, Brian A. Tangen, Michael J. Anteau
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Columbia Environmental Research Center

Using a vegetation index to assess wetland condition in the Prairie Pothole Region of North America

Wetlands deliver a suite of ecosystem services to society. Anthropogenic activities, such as wetland drainage, have resulted in considerable wetland loss and degradation, diminishing the intrinsic value of wetland ecosystems worldwide. Protecting remaining wetlands and restoring degraded wetlands are common management practices to preserve and reclaim wetland benefits to society...
Authors
Brian Tangen, Sheel Bansal, Seth Jones, Cami S. Dixon, Amanda M. Nahlik, Edward S. DeKeyser, Christina L. M. Hargiss, David M. Mushet
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Prairie wetlands as sources or sinks of nitrous oxide: Effects of land use and hydrology

National and global greenhouse gas (GHG) budgets are continually being refined as data become available. Primary sources of the potent GHG nitrous oxide (N2O) include agricultural soil management and burning of fossil fuels, but comprehensive N2O budgets also incorporate less prominent factors such as wetlands. Freshwater wetland GHG flux estimates, however, have high uncertainty, and...
Authors
Brian Tangen, Sheel Bansal
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Land management strategies influence soil organic carbon stocks of prairie potholes of North America

Soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks of Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) wetlands in the central plains of Canada and the United States are highly variable due to natural variation in biota, soils, climate, hydrology, and topography. Land-use history (cropland, grassland) and land-management practices (drainage, restoration) also affect SOC stocks. We conducted a region-wide assessment of...
Authors
Sheel Bansal, Brian Tangen, Robert A. Gleason, Pascal Badiou, Irena F. Creed
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Distributions of native and invasive Typha (cattail) throughout the Prairie Pothole Region of North America

The Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) of North America has experienced extreme changes in wetland habitat due to proliferation of invasive plants. Typha × glauca is a highly competitive hybrid between native T. latifolia and non-native T. angustifolia, and it is likely the predominant taxon in PPR wetlands. Genetics-based studies are limited, and distributions are poorly known for the first...
Authors
Brian Tangen, Sheel Bansal, Joanna R. Freeland, Steven E. Travis, Jen D. Wasko, Terence P. McGonigle, L. Gordon Goldsborough, Keira Gow, Joy E. Marburger, Jacob Meier
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Wetlands

During the last decades, soil organic carbon (SOC) attracted the attention of a much wider array of specialists beyond agriculture and soil science, as it was proven to be one of the most crucial components of the earth’s climate system, which has a great potential to be managed by humans. Soils as a carbon pool are one of the key factors in several Sustainable Development Goals, in...
Authors
Brian Tangen, Sheel Bansal
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Land Change Science Program, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Preserving soil organic carbon in prairie wetlands of central North America

Wetlands of the Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) in the Great Plains of central North America are numerous, densely distributed, and have highly productive plant and animal communities (Photo 49). When in a natural, unaltered condition, these wetlands store relatively large amounts of organic carbon in their soils (Photo 50). Human alterations, such as extensive drainage and land-use...
Authors
Sheel Bansal, Brian Tangen
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Land Change Science Program, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Wetland and hydric soils

Soil and the inherent biogeochemical processes in wetlands contrast starkly with those in upland forests and rangelands. The differences stem from extended periods of anoxia, or the lack of oxygen in the soil, that characterize wetland soils; in contrast, upland soils are nearly always oxic. As a result, wetland soil biogeochemistry is characterized by anaerobic processes, and wetland...
Authors
Carl Trettin, Randall Kolka, Anne Marsh, Sheel Bansal, Eric Lilleskov, Patrick Megonigal, Marla Stelk, Graeme Lockaby, David D'Amore, Richard A. MacKenzie, Brian Tangen, Rodney A. Chimner, James Gries
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Non-USGS Publications**

Tangen, B.A., Butler, M.G., and Ell, M.J., 2003, Weak correspondence between macroinvertebrate assemblages and land use in Prairie Pothole Region wetlands, USA: Wetlands, v. 23, p. 104–115.

**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.

Cattail (Typha) invasion in North American wetlands

Cattail (Typha) invasion in North American wetlands

This article is part of the Spring 2020 issue of the Earth Science Matters Newsletter. 

Read Article
Effects of land use on wetland greenhouse gas fluxes and soil properties

Effects of land use on wetland greenhouse gas fluxes and soil properties

This article is part of the Spring 2016 issue of the Earth Science Matters Newsletter. 

Read Article

Science and Products

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Aerial photo of the prairie pothole region of North American

Mechanisms, models, and management of invasive species and soil biogeochemical process in prairie pothole wetlands

The ecological foundation of thousands of acres of wetland habitat is being impacted by changes in land cover, land use, climate, and invasive species. This project utilizes USGS remotely-sensed products, along with experimental and observational field data to develop spatially-explicit, landscape-scale models of invasive cattails and soil biogeochemical processes. These models will assist...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
link

Mechanisms, models, and management of invasive species and soil biogeochemical process in prairie pothole wetlands

The ecological foundation of thousands of acres of wetland habitat is being impacted by changes in land cover, land use, climate, and invasive species. This project utilizes USGS remotely-sensed products, along with experimental and observational field data to develop spatially-explicit, landscape-scale models of invasive cattails and soil biogeochemical processes. These models will assist...
Learn More
link
Map of Prairie Pothole Region

Science Team about Energy and Plains and Potholes Environments (STEPPE)

Brine Contamination to Plains and Potholes Environments from Energy Development in the Williston Basin
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center
link

Science Team about Energy and Plains and Potholes Environments (STEPPE)

Brine Contamination to Plains and Potholes Environments from Energy Development in the Williston Basin
Learn More
link
Photo of a drainage pipe being installed in wetland catchment.

Assessment of pattern tile drainage on wetland hydrology and ecosystem services in the Prairie Pothole Region

Prairie Pothole Region wetlands provide numerous ecological services to society such as wildlife habitat, water storage, and carbon sequestration. Agricultural production in the region has been enhanced through the expanded installation and use of subsurface drainage systems, but these systems may have a negative impact on the region’s wetlands, including those protected by conservation easements...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Land Management Research Program, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
link

Assessment of pattern tile drainage on wetland hydrology and ecosystem services in the Prairie Pothole Region

Prairie Pothole Region wetlands provide numerous ecological services to society such as wildlife habitat, water storage, and carbon sequestration. Agricultural production in the region has been enhanced through the expanded installation and use of subsurface drainage systems, but these systems may have a negative impact on the region’s wetlands, including those protected by conservation easements...
Learn More
link
Photo showing the collection of aquatic invertebrate samples.

Description of aquatic vegetation and invertebrate communities at Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge

Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge is situated within a riverine system where refuge wetlands receive sediment-laden inflows that have been associated with diminished plant communities and water quality conditions. Accordingly, improved habitat- and water-quality conditions have been recognized as overall management goals, and the collection of baseline biotic and abiotic data has been identified...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
link

Description of aquatic vegetation and invertebrate communities at Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge

Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge is situated within a riverine system where refuge wetlands receive sediment-laden inflows that have been associated with diminished plant communities and water quality conditions. Accordingly, improved habitat- and water-quality conditions have been recognized as overall management goals, and the collection of baseline biotic and abiotic data has been identified...
Learn More
Filter Total Items: 20

Water quality data from wetlands in North Dakota, USA, 2019

This data release describes data that were contributed to the Global Lakes Ecosystem Observation Network (GLEON) FunAqua project, a global data compilation effort. Goals of the FunAqua project are to document the drivers of global aquatic fungal diversity and determine the breadth of the niche of aquatic fungi locally, globally, and in relation to soil and leaves. Data contributed by the...
By
Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Greenhouse gas concentrations and water-quality parameters from experimental ponds in North Dakota, USA, 2019

This data release describes data that were contributed to the GasHype project, a global data compilation effort. Goals of the GasHype project include assessing concentrations of carbon dioxide and methane in the hypolimnion of lakes, reservoirs, and ponds, and identifying important drivers of these concentrations. Data contributed by the U.S. Geological Survey, Northern Prairie Wildlife...
By
Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Chemical and isotopic data from wetland pond water samples collected in the Cottonwood Lake Study Area, Stutsman County, North Dakota, USA, 2015–2019

This U.S. Geological Survey data release contains chemical, isotopic, and physical data from wetland pond water samples collected at the Cottonwood Lake Study Area, Stutsman County, North Dakota, USA. Samples were collected monthly during the growing season (April or May through September) in 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2019 and in August 2018. Temperature, specific conductance, and pH were...
By
Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Greenhouse gas fluxes and dissolved greenhouse gas concentrations from wetland soil microcosms treated with herbicides

This data release presents data from a laboratory microcosm study examining the potential effects of herbicide application on the production and flux of greenhouse gases from wetland soils. Wetland soils were placed into glass mason jars and covered with water. Microcosms were treated with varying concentrations (none, low, medium, high) and combinations of the herbicides glyphosate and...
By
Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Water and ice characteristics from Hobart Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Barnes County, North Dakota, USA, 2021

This data release presents data that were collected as part of a larger effort to refine knowledge pertaining to the origin, composition, and seasonality of dissolved organic matter in lakes. This work was part of an international collaborative effort with the Global Lake Ecological Observatory Network (GLEON). Water samples were collected monthly during 2021 and shipped to GLEON for...
By
Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Methane flux model for wetlands of the Prairie Pothole Region of North America: Model input data and programming code

This data release presents input data for plot- and landscape-scale models of Prairie Pothole Region wetland methane emissions as a function of explanatory variables and remotely sensed predictors. Field data for the plot- and landscape-scale models span the years 2003-2016 and 2005-2016, respectively. The data release also includes R programming code to run the generalized additive...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Dissolved oxygen, temperature, and light measured along the water-depth profile of wetlands in North Dakota, USA, 2019

This data release presents data that were collected as part of a larger effort to assess factors that regulate ecosystem metabolism in small ponds. This work was part of an international collaborative effort with the Global Lake Ecological Observatory Network (GLEON). From May to October 2019, dissolved oxygen, temperature, and light were measured throughout the water-depth profile of...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Properties of ice cores from Hobart Lake, North Dakota, USA, 2021

This data release presents data that were collected as part of a larger effort (Global Lake Ecological Observatory Network [GLEON] IceBlitz) to enhance understanding of the spatial and temporal variation in global lake ice properties. During January and February of 2021 ice cores were extracted from Hobart Lake, North Dakota, USA and characterized following standard procedures...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Carbon dioxide flux, vegetation, and soils data from artificial ponds in North Dakota, USA, 2021

This data release presents data that were collected as part of a larger effort to assess the carbon balance of recently exposed (i.e., no vegetation cover) wetland sediments. This work was part of an international collaborative effort associated with the Dryflux II project. During June and July 2021, data were collected from three artificial ponds located near Jamestown, North Dakota, to...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Dissolved oxygen concentrations, light penetration, and temperature along the water-depth profile of wetlands P1 and P8 of the Cottonwood Lake Study area in North Dakota, USA, 2019

This data release presents data that were collected as part of a larger effort to assess factors that regulate metabolism in global lakes, via an international collaboration with the Global Lake Ecological Observatory Network (GLEON). From May to August 2019, dissolved oxygen and light penetration were measured throughout the water-depth profile of two small inland wetlands at Cottonwood...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Soil profile characteristics of Prairie Pothole Region wetland catchments, 2004

A study was conducted during 2004 to examine soil carbon storage of Prairie Pothole Region wetland catchments. These data represent the soil profile descriptions performed during that study; the remaining data were published previously (https://doi.org/10.5066/F7KS6QG2). Soil profile descriptions were performed at 270 temporary, seasonal, and semipermanent wetland catchments distributed...
By
Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Genetic and morphologic characteristics of Typha (cattail) taxa of the Prairie Pothole Region of the United States (2018)

Cattail (Typha) is a common plant found throughout the Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) of the United State. Typha x glauca, a hybrid between Typha latifolia and Typha angustifolia, is considered an invasive species that has spread across the PPR, negatively impacting the regions important wetlands and other aquatic habitats. The distribution of the various cattail taxa, however, is not well...
By
Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
No results found.
Filter Total Items: 44

Visual interpretation of high-resolution aerial imagery: A tool for land managers

Remotely sensed imagery from various collection platforms (e.g., satellites, crewed and uncrewed aircraft) are used by biologists and other conservation personnel to support management activities ranging from monitoring invasive species to assessing land cover and vegetation characteristics. Although remote sensing–based vegetation indices and models have been developed and used for some...
Authors
Brian Tangen, Rebecca L. Esser, Benjamin A. Walker
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Practical guide to measuring wetland carbon pools and fluxes

Wetlands cover a small portion of the world, but have disproportionate influence on global carbon (C) sequestration, carbon dioxide and methane emissions, and aquatic C fluxes. However, the underlying biogeochemical processes that affect wetland C pools and fluxes are complex and dynamic, making measurements of wetland C challenging. Over decades of research, many observational...
Authors
Sheel Bansal, Irena F. Creed, Brian Tangen, Scott D. Bridgham, Ankur R. Desai, Ken Krauss, Scott C Neubauer, Gregory Noe, Donald O. Rosenberry, Carl C. Trettin, Kimberly Wickland, Scott T. Allen, Ariane Arias-Ortiz, Anna R. Armitage, Dennis Baldocchi, Kakoli Banerjee, David Bastviken, Peter Berg, Matthew J. Bogard, Alex T. Chow, William H. Conner, Christopher Craft, Courtney Creamer, Tonya Delsontro, Jamie Duberstein, Meagan J. Eagle, M. Siobhan Fennessey, Sarah A. Finkelstein, Mathias Goeckede, Sabine Grunwald, Meghan Halibisky, Ellen R. Herbert, Mohammad Jahangir, Olivia Johnson, Miriam C. Jones, Jeffrey Kelleway, Sarah Knox, Kevin D. Kroeger, Kevin Kuehn, David Lobb, Amanda Loder, Shizhou Ma, Damien Maher, Gavin McNicol, Jacob Meier, Beth A. Middleton, Christopher T. Mills, Purbasha Mistry, Abhijith Mitra, Courtney Mobilian, Amanda M. Nahlik, Sue Newman, Jessica O'Connell‬, Patty Oikawa, Max Post van der Burg, Charles Schutte, Chanchung Song, Camille Stagg, Jessica Turner, Rodrigo Vargas, Mark Waldrop, Markus Wallin, Zhaohui Aleck Wang, Eric Ward, Debra A. Willard, Stephanie A. Yarwood, Xiaoyan Zhu
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Florence Bascom Geoscience Center, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center, Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center , Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Large increases in methane emissions expected from North America’s largest wetland complex

Natural methane (CH4) emissions from aquatic ecosystems may rise because of human-induced climate warming, although the magnitude of increase is highly uncertain. Using an exceptionally large CH4 flux dataset (~19,000 chamber measurements) and remotely sensed information, we modeled plot- and landscape-scale wetland CH4 emissions from the Prairie Pothole Region (PPR), North America’s...
Authors
Sheel Bansal, Max Post van der Burg, Rachel Fern, John Jones, Rachel Lo, Owen P. McKenna, Brian Tangen, Zhen Zhang, Robert A. Gleason
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Lessons learned from wetlands research at the Cottonwood Lake Study Area, Stutsman County, North Dakota, 1967–2021

Depressional wetlands in the Prairie Pothole Region of North America have a long history of investigation owing to their importance in maintaining migratory-bird populations, especially waterfowl. One area of particularly intensive study is the Cottonwood Lake study area in Stutsman County, North Dakota. Studies at the Cottonwood Lake study area began in 1967 and continue through the...
Authors
David M. Mushet, Ned H. Euliss, Donald O. Rosenberry, James W. LaBaugh, Sheel Bansal, Zeno F. Levy, Owen P. McKenna, Kyle McLean, Christopher T. Mills, Brian P. Neff, Richard D. Nelson, Matthew J. Solensky, Brian Tangen
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Potential effects of energy development on environmental resources of the Williston Basin in Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota—Species of conservation concern

The ecosystems of the Williston Basin provide direct and indirect benefits to society. These benefits include carbon sequestration, flood control, nutrient rich soils for agricultural productivity, and habitat for wildlife. This chapter’s main focus is on the effects of energy development on species that occupy the ecosystems in the Williston Basin. We compiled a list of documented...
Authors
Max Post van der Burg, Amy J. Symstad, Lawrence D. Igl, David M. Mushet, Diane L. Larson, Glen A. Sargeant, David D. Harper, Aïda M. Farag, Brian A. Tangen, Michael J. Anteau
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Columbia Environmental Research Center

Using a vegetation index to assess wetland condition in the Prairie Pothole Region of North America

Wetlands deliver a suite of ecosystem services to society. Anthropogenic activities, such as wetland drainage, have resulted in considerable wetland loss and degradation, diminishing the intrinsic value of wetland ecosystems worldwide. Protecting remaining wetlands and restoring degraded wetlands are common management practices to preserve and reclaim wetland benefits to society...
Authors
Brian Tangen, Sheel Bansal, Seth Jones, Cami S. Dixon, Amanda M. Nahlik, Edward S. DeKeyser, Christina L. M. Hargiss, David M. Mushet
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Prairie wetlands as sources or sinks of nitrous oxide: Effects of land use and hydrology

National and global greenhouse gas (GHG) budgets are continually being refined as data become available. Primary sources of the potent GHG nitrous oxide (N2O) include agricultural soil management and burning of fossil fuels, but comprehensive N2O budgets also incorporate less prominent factors such as wetlands. Freshwater wetland GHG flux estimates, however, have high uncertainty, and...
Authors
Brian Tangen, Sheel Bansal
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Land management strategies influence soil organic carbon stocks of prairie potholes of North America

Soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks of Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) wetlands in the central plains of Canada and the United States are highly variable due to natural variation in biota, soils, climate, hydrology, and topography. Land-use history (cropland, grassland) and land-management practices (drainage, restoration) also affect SOC stocks. We conducted a region-wide assessment of...
Authors
Sheel Bansal, Brian Tangen, Robert A. Gleason, Pascal Badiou, Irena F. Creed
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Distributions of native and invasive Typha (cattail) throughout the Prairie Pothole Region of North America

The Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) of North America has experienced extreme changes in wetland habitat due to proliferation of invasive plants. Typha × glauca is a highly competitive hybrid between native T. latifolia and non-native T. angustifolia, and it is likely the predominant taxon in PPR wetlands. Genetics-based studies are limited, and distributions are poorly known for the first...
Authors
Brian Tangen, Sheel Bansal, Joanna R. Freeland, Steven E. Travis, Jen D. Wasko, Terence P. McGonigle, L. Gordon Goldsborough, Keira Gow, Joy E. Marburger, Jacob Meier
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Wetlands

During the last decades, soil organic carbon (SOC) attracted the attention of a much wider array of specialists beyond agriculture and soil science, as it was proven to be one of the most crucial components of the earth’s climate system, which has a great potential to be managed by humans. Soils as a carbon pool are one of the key factors in several Sustainable Development Goals, in...
Authors
Brian Tangen, Sheel Bansal
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Land Change Science Program, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Preserving soil organic carbon in prairie wetlands of central North America

Wetlands of the Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) in the Great Plains of central North America are numerous, densely distributed, and have highly productive plant and animal communities (Photo 49). When in a natural, unaltered condition, these wetlands store relatively large amounts of organic carbon in their soils (Photo 50). Human alterations, such as extensive drainage and land-use...
Authors
Sheel Bansal, Brian Tangen
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Land Change Science Program, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Wetland and hydric soils

Soil and the inherent biogeochemical processes in wetlands contrast starkly with those in upland forests and rangelands. The differences stem from extended periods of anoxia, or the lack of oxygen in the soil, that characterize wetland soils; in contrast, upland soils are nearly always oxic. As a result, wetland soil biogeochemistry is characterized by anaerobic processes, and wetland...
Authors
Carl Trettin, Randall Kolka, Anne Marsh, Sheel Bansal, Eric Lilleskov, Patrick Megonigal, Marla Stelk, Graeme Lockaby, David D'Amore, Richard A. MacKenzie, Brian Tangen, Rodney A. Chimner, James Gries
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Non-USGS Publications**

Tangen, B.A., Butler, M.G., and Ell, M.J., 2003, Weak correspondence between macroinvertebrate assemblages and land use in Prairie Pothole Region wetlands, USA: Wetlands, v. 23, p. 104–115.

**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.

Cattail (Typha) invasion in North American wetlands

Cattail (Typha) invasion in North American wetlands

This article is part of the Spring 2020 issue of the Earth Science Matters Newsletter. 

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Effects of land use on wetland greenhouse gas fluxes and soil properties

Effects of land use on wetland greenhouse gas fluxes and soil properties

This article is part of the Spring 2016 issue of the Earth Science Matters Newsletter. 

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*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government

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