Insects and Invertebrates
Wetland and Riparian Habitats
Wetland and riparian habitats are found in the following places.
Westside or Coastal and Western Valley Riparian and Wetlands
These are diverse, wet habitats found along rivers and streams, and in the valley bottoms throughout western Oregon. They include riparian gallery forests, open riparian woodlands and shrublands, and valley bottomlands with willows, sedges or forbs. They are occur in small patches, so tend to be under-mapped, and are part of these ecological systems:
- North Pacific Lowland Riparian Forest and Shrubland
- Willamette Valley Wet Prairie
- Mediterranean California Foothill and Lower Montane Riparian Woodland
- Mediterranean California Serpentine Foothill and Lower Montane Riparian Woodland and Seep
Montane and Subalpine Riparian Forests and Shrublands
Riparian forests, shrublands and wetlands found at high elevations in the mountains are included in this habitat. They include a diverse array of shrub, wetlands, and woodlands in many ecological systems:
- North Pacific Montane Riparian Woodland and Shrubland
- Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Fen
- Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Riparian Shrubland
- Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Riparian Woodland
- Temperate Pacific Subalpine-Montane Wet Meadow
Copyright Bruce Newhouse (Courtesy ODFW)
Eastside Lower Montane Riparian Woodlands and Shrublands
The lowland riparian forests and shrublands in eastern Oregon (and Idaho and Washington) are part of this habitat type. They are quite diverse, including forests, woodlands and shrublands along rivers and streams, but occupy narrow strips so are poorly mapped. They are also often damaged by overuse and habitat manipulation. They are part of one of these ecological systems:
- Columbia Basin Foothill Riparian Woodland and Shrubland
- Great Basin Foothill and Lower Montane Riparian Woodland and Shrubland
- Rocky Mountain Lower Montane-Foothill Riparian Woodland and Shrubland
- Northern Rocky Mountain Lower Montane Riparian Woodland and Shrubland
Marshes, Bogs and Emergent Wetlands
The many diverse types of bogs, marshes and non-forested wetlands found throughout the state are merged into this habitat type. They include poorly mapped habitats because most patches are either small or narrow, including 12 ecological systems:
- North Pacific Bog and Fen
- Columbia Plateau Vernal Pool
- Inter-Mountain Basins Alkaline Closed Depression
- Mediterranean California Serpentine Fen
- North American Arid West Emergent Marsh
- Modoc Basalt Flow Vernal Pool
- North Pacific Hardpan Vernal Pool
- Northern California Claypan Vernal Pool
- Northern California Volcanic Vernal Pool
- Northern Columbia Plateau Basalt Pothole Ponds
- Temperate Pacific Freshwater Aquatic Bed
- Temperate Pacific Freshwater Emergent Marsh
Forested or Shrub Wetlands and Swamps
Forested and shrub-dominated swamps and wetlands are included in this rare habitat type. Lodgepole pine, aspen, willow, spiraea, and spruce are the most important trees and shrubs in this habitat, which includes three ecological systems:
- North Pacific Hardwood-Conifer Swamp
- North Pacific Shrub Swamp
- Northern Rocky Mountain Conifer Swamp