The ecology of the coastal marshes of western Lake Erie: A community profile
Lake Erie, the southernmost of the Laurentian Great Lakes, is narrow and relatively shallow in comparison to other Great Lakes. The lake experiences extreme water level fluctuations and storm energy restricts the development of wetlands to protected areas within embayments, lagoons, or behind barriers. However, coastal marshes of western Lake Erie fringe the shorelines of Michigan, Ohio, and Ontario and encompass an area of 268 km/sup 2/. This publication reviews the ecological data and information on the wetlands of Lake Erie, which are some of the more productive areas in the Great Lakes ecosystem. The geologic history of the Lake Erie leading to the development of wetlands, the present environment, and present wetland distribution are presented as background in the opening chapters. Biological information available for the Lake Erie wetlands is discussed in detail, and ecological processes contributing to the evolution of wetlands, biological production, and community organization in the wetlands are examined. A chapter on applied ecology addressing issues, such as wetland loss, values of wetlands to fish and wildlife, management, and future prospects for Lake Erie wetlands, completes the publication.
- Research Organization:
- Ohio State Univ., Columbus (USA). Center for Lake Erie Area Research; Fish and Wildlife Service, Slidell, LA (USA). National Wetlands Research Center
- OSTI ID:
- 5516847
- Report Number(s):
- NP-7900642; ON: TI87900642
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Includes 1 sheet of 24x reduction microfiche
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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