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Researchers Studying How Animals Affected By Wetlands Loss

BROOKINGS, S.D. (AP) — Some South Dakota researchers are using a federal grant to figure out what happens to the animals when a pond goes dry.

How far the frogs, salamanders and ducks must travel to find another wetland is the focus of the work being done over three years by the South Dakota State University team.

The researchers say they’ll evaluate the impact that changes in climate and land use have had on the connectivity of wetlands in the Prairie Pothole Region.

The $2.1 million National Science Foundation grant was split among five universities and focuses on balancing wetlands conservation and agricultural production.

The SDSU scientists will look at remote sensing data like satellite images and aerial photos to look at how changes have impacted wetlands over 35 years.