By: Christopher Edwards Great lake of Michigan By: Christopher Edwards

Great Lake of Michigan Lake Michigan is the only one of the five Great Lakes that is entirely sheltered by the United States. The third largest Great Lake has a water surface area of 22,300 square miles, and it contains numerous islands. Michigan's western Great Lakes region benefits from the "lake effect" caused by the large body of its namesake water, which creates a favorable environment for growing a wealth of agricultural products.

Lake Michigan can be located 44°N 87°W You can find great lakes all over the world. Lakes make up of 95% of freshwater. In US alone there are 26 great lakes.

What makes a Great Lake “Great”? Size Biodiversity Location Beauty Existence

Climatograms of Lake Michigan

Great Plants of Great Lake Michigan Baby’s-Breath Dwarf lake iris Eurasian water milfoil Lake Huron tansy Zooplankton

Adaptation and Symbiosis Various species of aquatic plants and algae have adapted to exist in the wider parts of rivers and streams where the water is clear enough to allow sunlight to enter. Examples of adaptations of these plants are wetlands contain standing water and plant species that have adapted to this very moist and humid environment include pond lilies, cattails, sedges. Aquatic plants must be flexible to withstand the pressures of moving water. Some plants have leaves that float atop the water, exposing themselves to the sunlight. An example of plant symbiosis is when zooplankton dies it gives the fish in the lake something to feed on this symbiotic relationship is called mutualism.

Great Animals of Great Lake Michigan Chinook Salmon Trout Common Carp Eurasian Ruffe Gizzard Shad Lake Herring

Human Impact Problem: As time progress more and more humans are moving closer to the great lakes, which is causing misuse of the great lakes such as pollution, littering, and use of unsafe chemicals which is causing the animals near the lake to evacuate to another part of the lake. But what will happen when the animals have no else to go? Solution: The solution to this problem is common things we need to do everyday; throw your trash away, be respectful to the lakes and etc. Problem: The shipping and hydroelectric-power industries favor higher water levels which is causing higher water levels which cause erosion, is the action of exogamic processes which remove soil and rock from one location on the Earth's crust, then transport it to another location where it is deposited. Solution: No known solution for this problem… yet, biologist is still currently working this.

Adaptations and symbiosis Many of the fish that live in the Lake Michigan have many of the same adaptations. Most of the fish live in the limnetic zone which is the area where there is the most sunlight and near the surface. Many of these fish had to adapt to the higher oxygen level, cooler and clearer water this lake provides. Examples of adaptations these fish have is; Large eyes to feed by sight; Oval shape bodies for open water to swim easier and they have smaller scales to catch fast moving prey. An example of symbiosis in lake Michigan is the sea lamprey attaches to a trout and sucks the blood out of the trout until it dies. This is a Parasitism relationship.

Species spotlight: Zebra Mussel A zebra mussel is an example of an invasive species. You will find this species near the littoral zone of the lake which is near the shore. The reason why this animal is an invasive species because Zebra mussels can cause problems for lakeshore residents and recreationists. Homeowners that take lake water to water lawns can have their intakes clogged. Mussels may attach to motors and possibly clog cooling water areas. If a lake has high numbers of mussels over large areas, this filter feeding could impact the food chain, reducing food for larval fish What we are doing to control this problem is nothing yet has been set on what exactly to do with this issue because biologist say removing the zebra mussel will cause a positive and negative effect on the animals in the lake, so as of right now we are finding a solution.

Species Spotlight: Piping Plover This bird is an example of an endangered species. Endangered species are animals and plants that are in danger of becoming extinct. Why are these birds endangered? Many of the coastal beaches traditionally used by piping plovers for nesting have been lost to commercial, residential, and recreational developments. What are we doing to protect these species? Controlling human access to nesting areas, nest monitoring and protection, limiting residential and industrial development, and properly managing water flow.

Citations Carson, R. (1999, April 11). Great Lakes. Retrieved April 11, 1999. Williams, L. (2001). Our Lakes (1st ed., Vol. 1, p. 85). New York: The other 46 Brown, C. (2012). Our great biomes (1st ed., Vol. 1, p. 252). Los Angeles