Aquatic vegetation has an important role in freshwater habitats including:
Providing Oxygen
Just like trees and other terrestial plants, aquatic plants photosynthesize and procuce oxygen which is released into the water to be uptaken by fish and other aquatic life
Providing Food
As primary producers, aquatic plants are the start of the food chain in lakes. Without them as an available food source, lakes would not be able to support any other life
Providing Shelter
Small fish species, crawfish, and snails take shelter in aquatic plants to hide from their predators
Roots of the aquatic plants stabilizes the banks of lakes and helps limit the effect for erosion from waves by slowing down the waves before they hit the shore. The remoal of aquatic vegetation and the subsequent shoreline erosion damages wildlife habitats, muddies the water, and causes issues for lakefront property owners
Reducing Pollution
Aquatic vegetation helps with pollution by absorbing and breaking down nutrients and other chemicals polluting the water which improves the quality of the lake water
Invasive Species
Invasive aquatic plants are species of non-native plants in an ecosystem. The presence of invasives can be harmful to the native plants life. Once establish, removing the invasives can be very difficult and nearly impossible to eradicate. Identification and reporting of invasive species is necessary to prevent long-term damage to ecosystems.
Some Common Plants at Lacawac
Emergent Plants- rooted in the soil under the water but grows to have leaves and flowers above water