Overview

Why do fish jump? Why don't lakes freeze all the way down to the bottom? Which lake plants are invasive? What are those water bugs? Is that lake healthy? Whether you fish, paddle, swim, snowshoe, ski, or just gaze upon your favorite lake, A Lakeside Companion will deepen your appreciation for the forces that shape lakes and the teeming life in and around them. You'll discover the interconnected worlds of a lake: the water; the sand, gravel, rocks, and muck of the bottom; the surface of the lake; the air above; and the shoreline, a belt of land incredibly rich in flora and fauna. Explained, too, are the physical, biological, and chemical processes that determine how many and what kinds of fish live in the lake, which plants grow there, the color and clarity of the water, how ice forms in winter and melts in spring, and much more. Useful advice will help you look out for your lake and advocate for its protection.

Full Product Details

Author:   Ted J. Rulseh
Publisher:   University of Wisconsin Press
Imprint:   University of Wisconsin Press
Dimensions:   Width: 15.20cm , Height: 1.20cm , Length: 22.90cm
Weight:   0.425kg
ISBN:  

9780299320003

ISBN 10:   0299320006
Pages:   224
Publication Date:   30 September 2018
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Available To Order  
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Table of Contents

Preface Acknowledgments 1. Basics Putting in the pier How the glaciers did their work How precious is water? It’s all connected The impact of landscape position Your lake is not an island How lakes get their water How long does your lake’s water stay? In the zone Stories in sediment: Paleolimnology Trophic status—one way to classify lakes That all-important oxygen Your lake has layers Thin soup It all starts with the sun How clear is your lake? The color of water Light in the water Wave energy Your lake has a “skin” How acid or alkaline is your lake? The nitrogen cycle How phosphorus behaves How to know your lake better than almost everyone 2. Fins Fish anatomy: How they’re built Fish behavior: How they act and survive Angling interludes Species we treasure 3. Frozen The lake in autumn Closing time Smoke on the water The lid goes on The hard work of freezing Here’s why lakes don’t freeze solid Why won’t moving water freeze? The glass-bottomed boat Oxygen and temperature Just you and the otter Who made those tracks in the snow? Amazing ice Why is it slippery? An icy hurdle finally cleared How much weight can it hold? If you fell through Crystal candles To the new year Late ice The lake unveiled What a difference a few days make Daylight Saving Time 4. Creatures The ring of life Zooplankton Snapping turtles Painted turtles: Here’s why they bask Bats: Night shadows Clams and mussels: Not just stationary objects Dragonfly riot Fresh live bait Damselflies: Glow sticks with wings Fishing spiders Frogs: Players in the band Tadpoles and pollywogs Meet the muskrat Water striders: Row, row, row your bug Crayfish: Freshwater lobsters Travels etched in snow Mayflies: Up from the bottom Midges: Those little white flies Water snake: Slippery, stealthy, unnerving, harmless Whirligig beetles: Can’t catch this! 5. Feathers Any day, any season Hooded merganser: With a “broken wing” Duckling survival Eagle efficiency Fish hawk Great blue heron Kingfisher: What’s that rattle? Wood ducks Common mergansers: Two pair Swallows: Master aviators Loons: Crown jewels of the lake 6. Greenery Why do we call them weeds? How water plants spread Amazing algae Pondweeds: Forests of the lakes Fishermen’s friend: Large-leaf pondweed Northern blue flag: A beauty to behold Milfoils: They’re not all invasive Duckweeds: Free floaters Three kinds of pads Hearts and arrows: Pickerelweed and arrowhead What’s the rush? Coontail conundrum Wild celery Bladderworts: Carnivorous vegetables 7. Caring 180.5 acres Water quality: What’s it worth? Dark at night: What a concept! Taking care of the fish Getting warmer The best gift you can give your lake Who owns the waters? A salty dilemma The wood makes it good If the bad guys were bigger Who looks out for your lake? Teaching kids to love the lake If everybody did Blazes of glory Suggested Readings

Reviews

Delivers the magic of lake living while conveying water science topics in a clear and engaging way. Whether you are on the lakeshore or far away, it will bring you back to the waters you love. A great read. --Michael Engleson, executive director, Wisconsin Lakes Interesting and informative. Rulseh presents the science of lakes in an enjoyable way, with real-world examples. He explains how little things that shore residents do on their property can have a large impact on the lake's ecology. --Paul Garrison, retired limnologist, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

Author Information

Ted J. Rulseh writes the newspaper column The Lake Where You Live and is active in lake-advocacy organizations, including the Wisconsin Citizen Lake Monitoring Network. The editor and publisher of several books on the Great Lakes region, he is the author of On the Pond: Lake Michigan Reflections. He lives in the lake-rich region of northeastern Wisconsin.

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