TFN Juniors Learning About Lakes

Hello Junior Naturalists!

This week’s theme is lakes! There are different types of lake habitats, all of which are important to sustaining aquatic plant and animal diversity. Canada has the most lakes of any country in the world, and it’s important that we take good care of them.

Toronto was built on the shore of Lake Ontario, one of the Great Lakes. Industrialization and urbanization has unfortunately led to the degradation of Lake Ontario. The populations of some native species like Atlantic salmon, American eel and lake trout have decreased over the years. Non-native species like round goby, sea lamprey and zebra mussel have been introduced and become invasive!

Can you name each of the Great Lakes?

Efforts are being made to restore natural habitats and wildlife populations in Lake Ontario through research and recovery action plans. For example, The City of Toronto, Waterfront Toronto and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority are working to revitalize the mouth of the Don River. The goal is to provide better aquatic and terrestrial habitat, and reduce the risk of flooding. Learn more here: https://trca.ca/conservation/green-infrastructure/don-mouth-naturalization-port-lands-flood-protection-project/

If you’re looking for a challenge, play the Great Lakes Game that Vanessa made! Find a path for the yellow perch to get to safety (aquatic plants) or food (crayfish) without encountering its predators (great blue heron and walleye).

Great-Lakes-GameDownload

Check out the Science for Kids website for cool facts about lakes! https://www.scienceforkidsclub.com/lakes.html

We got a lot of great contributions this past week! Check out the gallery below for some amazing nature photos – many of them are of beautiful Ontario forests!

  • Amara saw this bright green caterpillar (Pandorus sphynx moth)
  • Amara saw this cool looking stick insect
  • Caitlin and her family explored some of the forests in Algonquin Park
  • Caitlin and her family explored some of the forests in Algonquin Park
  • Caitlin and her family explored some of the forests (and lakes!) in Algonquin Park
  • Caitlin and her family visited Limehouse Conservation Area
  • Caitlin and her family visited Limehouse Conservation Area
  • Daria and George raised monarch butterflies from caterpillars! Here they are in the pupa stage.
  • Daria and George raised monarch butterflies from caterpillars!
  • Daria and George raised monarch butterflies from caterpillars!
  • Sandra sent in this picture of a an architectural looking moth (Apantesis/ Grammia sp?)

As always, have a great week and send us more photos! Try to get out to a lake if you’re able to. 🙂

Toronto Field Naturalists wishes to acknowledge this Land through which we walk. For thousands of years, the Land has been shared by the Wendat, the Haudenosaunee, and the Anishinaabe. Toronto is situated on the Land within the Toronto Purchase, Treaty 13, the traditional and treaty Lands of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. This territory is also part of the Dish with One Spoon Wampum, a covenant agreement between Anishinaabeg, Haudenosaunee, Wendat peoples and allied nations to peaceably share the land and all its resources. Today, the Land is home to peoples of numerous nations. We are all grateful to have the opportunity to continue to care for and share the beauty of this Land.