NatureMapping Habitat - Open Water: Lake

Definition of "Open Water" - General Code 400: Large open water space. Excludes wetlands.

Open Water: Freshwater Lake (411)

Descriptive Habitat Code: Open water (4), freshwater lake (11).

Photo of Lake Washington in Seattle.

American wigeon
Anas americana
Code: ANAAM
Photo: RA

Distribution and Habitat:
It is distributed across North America from Alaska southward to Costa Rica

Diet:
It feeds primarily upon aquatic plants, such as wild celery.

Interesting fact:
The American wigeons can be found feeding on large grassy areas, such as golf courses and large lawns next to lakes.

American Wigeon Fact Sheet »

California gull
Larus californius
Code: LACAL
Photo: RA

Distribution and Habitat:
It is found throughout parts of the western North Pacific Ocean. It breeds on gravel beds along the Columbia River and large lakes in the Columbia Basin.

Diet:
It is an opportunistic scavenger feeding on fish, crustaceans, bivalves and other invertebrates, as well as carrion and scavenging items from dumps and other areas of human habitation.

Interesting fact:
This gull is often found nesting together with the Ring- billed gull. It is Utah's state bird because it saved settlers from starvation when flocks of California gulls ate the locusts ruining their crops.

Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
Code: BRCA
Photo: Natures Pics

Distribution and Habitat:
The most familiar and widespread goose in North America, the Canada Goose can be found in all kinds of water all across the continent, from the tundra to the Gulf Coast.

Their habitat preference includes ponds, lakes, rivers, grainfields, fresh and saltwater marshes.

Diet:
The Canada goose favors aquatic plants, small aquatic animals, grass, and grains.

Interesting fact:
The female is called a goose and the male is a gander. The young are know as goslings.

Canada Goose Fact Sheet »

Daphnia
Dapnia sp. (family Daphniidae, Order Cladocera)
Photo: KMD

Distribution and Habitat:
It is found distributed across North America in lakes, ponds, reservoirs and slow moving rivers.

Diet:
This small aquatic invertebrate feeds on plant pollen that falls onto the surface of the water and phytoplankton and bacteria.

Interesting fact:
Daphniae are also known as water fleas. They are crustaceans, as are shrimp.

Eurasian watermilfoil
Myriophyllum spicatum
Photo: KH

Distribution and Habitat:
This introduced species is discussed in length in the species section of this module. Stagnant water created by milfoil provides good habitat and breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Dense milfoil mats degrade water quality by raising pH, decreasing oxygen under the mats and increasing temperature.

Interesting fact:
Non-native grass carp (a fish) were introduced into a couple of lakes to see if they would eat noxious weeds. The results showed they liked the noxious weeds and all the other plants too.

Green heron
Butorides striatus
Code: BUST
Photo: RA

Distribution and Habitat:
The green heron is found in secluded wetlands, wooded sloughs, and along slow-moving water in ditches.

Diet:
It feeds largely on fish. Frogs and other small animals are also occasionally taken.

Interesting fact:
It is a good climber, adept at moving among the tangles of trees and bushes near the water while in search of food. This species is also known as the green-backed heron.

Green Heron Fact Sheet »

Kokanee
Oncorhynchus nerka
Photo: CF

Distribution and Habitat:
Kokanee are "land-locked". This means they live in lakes and never travel to the ocean. They are open water fish, which means they do not come close to shore to feed.

Diet:
Kokanee eat mostly zooplankton, but may eat some insect larvae and other invertebrates.

Interesting fact:
Kokanee are the same species as sockeye salmon. They are the same color but smaller. Both sockeye and kokanee are open water fish and can be seen together in the lakes.

Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
Code: ANPL
Photo: KMD

Distribution and Habitat:
It is found in wetlands, lakes, ponds, rivers, estuaries and coastal marine areas.

Diet:
It is an omnivore and feeds upon aquatic plants, seeds, nuts, fruits, wild rice, earthworms, small fish, snails, leeches, small frogs, toads, tadpoles, insects, including dragonfly nymphs, mice, lizards and newts.

Interesting fact:
The mallard nests on the ground, laying between 6 and 10 eggs. A female will kill a duckling that is not hers.

Mallard Fact Sheet »