Caba Biodiversity Pack Lakes
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BIODIVERSITY PACK HABITAT GUIDE LAKES Lakes, broadly defined as standing waterbodies of over 2 hectares in surface area, exhibit great variety in terms of size, depth, productivity and characteristic species. They are typically classified across a gradient of productivity; from nutrient poor ‘oligotrophic’ lakes common across the uplands, to the naturally more nutrient rich ‘eutrophic’ lakes typical of the lowlands. Freshwater and terrestrial wetland habitats enhance our many freshwater habitats is excavation and reservoir construction. are formed by the flow and retention of intrinsically linked; with works to rivers and Man-made water bodies can have similar water in the landscape. Their nature is lakes able to benefit wetland habitats, and physical, chemical and biological properties determined by landform and hydrological vice versa. Delivery on a catchment scale to natural lakes, so their origin does not pathways, the characteristics of the water can take account of these synergies, and preclude them being of conservation value. supply, and climatological and biological can look to secure opportunities to achieve influences which generate a mosaic of biodiversity benefits across the full range of Those that are naturally functioning (in rivers, lakes, wet grasslands, reedbeds, habitats present within a catchment. terms of water chemistry and quality, and other habitats of various degrees of hydrological regime, wetness and types of hydrochemistry. morphology WFD AND and biological The UK Biodiversity Action Plan (published B2020 assemblages) in 1994), described the biological resources Man-made water provide the best and of the UK which were identified as SYNERGIES: bodies can have similar most sustainable being the most threatened and required VERY physical, chemical and expressions of conservation action – our priority species biological properties freshwater habitats and habitats. Detailed plans set out actions ACHIEVABLE and the biodiversity to protect and restore our threatened to natural lakes, so they support. Some wildlife, and work continues today, as a Targets for Good their origin does not artificial systems key part of the delivery within Biodiversity Ecological Status under cannot operate 2020 and the Water Framework Directive the Water Framework preclude them being in this way due to (WFD). Across catchments, action to Directive place a focus of conservation value their very nature, on the biology (aquatic requiring constant plants, algae and intervention to © Ben Hall/2020VISION invertebrates), physico- maintain their chemistry (nutrients, dissolved oxygen, biodiversity interest. Examples include: acidity), hydrology and morphology of our lakes. Status improvements under WFD can • Lakes generated by impounding make a contribution to all targets under rivers; these prevent natural river Outcome 1 of Biodiversity 2020 which calls habitat function, act as silt traps and for Priority Habitats to be maintained in will inevitably become in-filled and favourable condition, degraded ecosystems eutrophic; to be restored, and areas of importance for • Reservoirs with artificial hydrological biodiversity and ecosystem services to be regimes or highly artificial margins; safeguarded. these features restrict hydrological connectivity with adjacent wetland LAKES IN A habitats. CATCHMENT CONTEXT These systems remain valuable for the species they support, and are particularly important where no good-quality natural GLACIAL LANDSCAPES CONTAIN MANY Lakes form naturally via a range of LAKES FORMED AFTER THE LAST ICE AGE hydrological and geological process, such as standing water habitats remain. However, if glacial deepening, whilst others have been naturally functioning lakes can be restored, created by human activity such as mineral these will provide a more sustainable 1 BIODIVERSITY PACK: LAKES habitat to support this biodiversity in a Lake substrate varies naturally with lake type TROUT MAY FEED IN LAKES, MOVING OUT way that also allows natural functioning of and size, with large water bodies having INTO RIVERS TO SPAWN other adjacent habitats, supporting the full a greater fetch and therefore exposure. range of biodiversity at the landscape scale. Sheltered shores and deeper water are dominated by fine silts and muds, whilst NATURAL ECOSYSTEM coarser particles dominate exposed shores. Seasonally exposed muddy banks are FUNCTION IN LAKES important for plants such the rare cut-grass, and a number of priority invertebrates, Natural water quality is the most whilst clean gravels that do not dry out important requirement for a lake to provide spawning grounds for fish. support a natural biological community. This includes nutrients, acidity, oxygen, Lake water levels fluctuate naturally; some lack of other pollutants and colour. Under dry out completely, such as the aquifer- natural conditions, the fed fluctuating nutrient status of the meres in Breckland, water should reflect and others hardly the geology, soils and Natural water quality fluctuate at all. Bare vegetation of the is the most important substrate (rock, catchment, giving rise pebbles, sand or silt) to a range of lake types requirement for a lake exposed by water from nutrient poor to to support a natural level drawdown rich. There will also be provides habitat for a strong correlation biological community insect larvae and between alkalinity their associated © Alexander Mustard/2020VISION and nutrient status, as predators. both originate from the Water levels also surrounding geology; readily weathered determine the hydrological connectivity rocks will lead to both higher nutrient of lakes; when levels are high they may AT A GLANCE GUIDE concentrations and higher alkalinity. This is be naturally connected, and as they fall reflected in work undertaken for the Water may become isolated (either permanently LAKES Framework Directive which classifies lakes or temporarily), shaping their biological according to alkalinity and depth. assemblages. Lakes may be longitudinally Phosphorous and nitrogen connected by their inflows and outflows, or limit the productivity of a lake, In clear water lakes phosphorous and/ laterally by connections between a lake and determining abundance, type and or nitrogen limit the productivity of the its surrounding wetlands. system, determining the abundance, diversity of AQUATIC PLANTS type and diversity of aquatic plants. Connectivity results in the expression of Light availability also limits productivity; a natural hydrosere; this transition from particularly for lakes in peaty catchments fully aquatic (downslope) to terrestrial Lake water-levels fluctuate where organic matter makes the water communities (upslope) is critically naturally. Rocks, sand and silt brown, limiting light penetration and dependent on natural water levels and exposed by ‘draw-down’ provide resultant biomass. shorelines. The extent of the hydrosere habitat for INSECT LARVAE will depend on the morphology of the lake Acidity varies with geology, with and the surrounding topography and will photosynthetic activity (CO2 uptake encompass a range of water depths, light INVERTEBRATES, reduces acidity) and as a consequence climates, wave exposure and sediment and of hydrological events (via dilution or types. As well as being important habitats, ZOOPLANKTON, FISH concentration). It influences all chemical natural hydroseres also play a role in BIRDS feed, breed and take and biological processes in lakes, so can the maintenance of water quality and refuge among emergent vegetation impact considerably on water quality and dissipation of wave energy. found on the fine silts and muds of lake ecology. Plants dominate the littoral zone; sheltered shores Dissolved oxygen, essential for respiration, submerged stoneworts and pondweeds is another important aspect of water dominate the deeper areas, and are joined BACTERIA take advantage of quality. Water naturally holds less oxygen in the shallows by emergent species, organic matter that settles on the at higher temperatures, salinity and whilst periphyton (attached algae) may altitude, and concentrations will also dominate wave-exposed rocky shores. lake bed vary between lakes depending on depth, The littoral zone also provides habitat for season, productivity and exposure. invertebrates, zooplankton, fish and birds, The cold and dangerous open Organic material that settles on a lake bed which feed, spawn/nest and take refuge water zone is dominated by decomposes, consuming oxygen, and in amongst the vegetation, tree roots and deep lakes particularly this oxygen may not deadwood. Fringing vegetation aids the PLANKTON and ROACH be replenished as the lower waters become emergence of dragonfly and damselfly cut off from the atmosphere by the water species, and is essential for the terrestrial above, either as surface waters become part of the lifecycle of many organisms. In Migratory fish such as EEL and warm and less dense in summer, or when many smaller, very shallow lakes the whole LAMPREY require connections they freeze in winter. Low oxygen levels water body is essentially one large littoral zone to flowing waters to enable them impact fish like shelly and vendace. and there is little if any truly ‘open water’. to complete their life cycle 2 BIODIVERSITY PACK: LAKES © Zsuzsanna Bird abundant, as are freshwater shrimps, molluscs and chironomids. Moderate nutrient concentrations, clear water, suitable oxygen levels, and a mix of substrates and emergent vegetation provide habitat for this diverse range of fauna. Unimpacted