Our Lakes
Food For
Thought
| Our Lakes
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| Food for Thought... Some lakes in the interior of BC (such as lakes in the Kamloops area) have huge shoal areas and are fairly shallow. Other lakes (such as Quesnel Lake) in steep valleys are very deep. Why would the fish in lakes with lots of shoal areas grow very big very quickly? | Discuss the effects of large shoal areas on lakes, which have large areas that provide habitat for aquatic insects. Deep lakes with little shoreline or shoal provide less aquatic habitat. Consider the effects of oxygen and light on the lake environment. |
| Food for Thought... Often the best fishing is right along the drop off zone. Why is that? | Discuss the advantages for fish to be near their food supply (aquatic insects) while near shelter (deep water). |
| Food for Thought...How does man sometimes contribute to speeding up lake succession? | Have the children investigate the effects of fertilizer and other pollutants on a lake. |
| Food for Thought...Right after "ice-off" - the fish very actively feed and spend their time near the surface. Why? | Look at the various layers of a spring lake. Often the only oxygenated water is near the surface. The fish are also hungry after a winter of fasting and will need to feed heavily. |
| Food for Thought...What causes the oxygen in the water to disappear? What restores the oxygen to the water? | Oxygen disappears when fish use it up in respiration, and when debris consumes it for the rotting process. Oxygen is restored to the lake when aquatic plants begin photosynthesis again and when the wind churns the water with air. |
| Food for Thought...If you could be an animal, what kind of animal would you be? Answer: You already are an animal! | Consider the characteristics of various animals, and how that might fit in with how you would like to live! |
| Food for Thought...What watershed do you live in? | Look at a map of your city. Are there any rivers running through it or nearby? Follow these streams both up and downstream to the ocean. See how the rivers and streams are interconnected and how much land is covered by one river's watershed. |
| Food for Thought...Where would you put people in the food web? | People are on top of the food web - with no natural predators. |
| Food for Thought...What creatures do you think like this area? | Look around at the area where you live. If you live in a city, consider what habitats are formed for creatures by the buildings, parks and roadways. If you live in the country, how has man's development (or lack of it) affected habitat for fish and wildlife. |
| Food for Thought...Why would the fish in lakes with lots of shoal areas grow very big very quickly? | Shoal areas get more sunlight and produce more plant life - which provides food and shelter for insects and fish. These small creatures provide ready food for larger fish, so they can grow faster. |
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