Many of Minnesota's aquatic and forest ecosystems merge with one another.
Minnesota is the 12th-largest state in the United States at nearly 87,000 square miles. This upper Midwest state is home to marine, grasslands and forest ecosystems. These ecosystems are home to a variety of wildlife species and plant life. With approximately 5 million residents, Minnesota also has a network of urban ecosystems within its borders.
Freshwater Aquatic
Freshwater aquatic ecosystems are one of the dominant ecosystems in Minnesota, which is commonly referred to as the "Land of 10,000 Lakes." The freshwater ecosystem is home to a variety of wildlife species and more than 150 aquatic plants; most of Minnesota's aquatic plants are native species. Among the bodies of water in a freshwater ecosystem are rivers, lakes, ponds, streams and wetlands. The largest body of water adjacent to Minnesota is Lake Superior, one of the five Great Lakes. Lake Superior is at Minnesota's northeastern corner. Minnesota is also home to a large segment of the Mississippi River, one of the longest rivers in the world.
Forests
According to the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources, Minnesota has more than 14 million acres of forests, or about 27 percent of the state's total land area. Minnesota's forests consist of coniferous varieties -- such as black spruce, balsam fir and eastern white pine -- and broadleaf trees -- including bitternut hickory, bur oak and American elm. Minnesota has 58 state parks and protected forest areas. The logging industry, which owns 5 percent of the state's forests, is the third-largest industry in the state, employing approximately 60,000 residents. More than 40 percent of Minnesota's forests are privately owned.
Urban
Urban ecosystems are human-constructed cities, towns and villages. In Minnesota, the largest urban ecosystem is the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, also known as the "Twin Cities." The metropolitan statistical area of both cities is approximately 3.5 million residents and more than 100 square miles. These ecosystems are usually affected by their surrounding ecosystems. The Twin Cities are divided by the Mississippi River. According to National Geographic, Minneapolis and St. Paul are two of the most eco-friendly cities in the United States, because of the implementation of biomass energy and greenhouse gas reductions.
Prairie
Prairie ecosystems blanket the southern and western regions of Minnesota. During the 19th century prairie grasslands covered one-third of the state's total land area. This ecosystem generally falls under the grasslands biome and is characterized by moderate rainfall and shrub plant life, rather than trees. Minnesota has several major prairie regions, including Glacial Ridge, Blanket Flower, Rock Ridge, Glynn, Mound Spring and Cedar Mountain. Once one of the largest prairie ecosystems, Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge in northwest Minnesota has more than 35,000 acres.
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