By Jennifer Johnson, Daily News

In recent years, the waterfowl production habitat has noticeably decreased across the northern prairie states and Canada. Severe habitat losses have sparked concern on preserving wetlands, causing research on global climate change as one possible factor.At the Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center in Jamestown, research biologist Gary Krapu has spent 37 years studying waterfowl-related issues. While he said it is uncertain that climate change directly affects waterfowl, current information indicates that parts of the prairie pothole region will be drier in the future.

"The species that rely on the shallower wetlands earlier in the season may be affected more adversely than other species," said Krapu. Under this scenario, ducks like pintails would be more affected, while gadwalls and mallards, which nest early but continue to nest longer, would be less affected.

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