Silver Lake must be very unique from the fact that it was
originally a bog which burned for roughly three years around 1949 and
then became a lake. This physical history may result in a very
unique ecosystem which might, at first, seem to lack diversity but
which might be supporting some very unusual species.
Robin Scribailo and Mitch Alix have surveyed Silver Lake for aquatic
plants & plan to publish findings.
The following comments are in April 2004, the above statement is
an update:
Mitch and I (RS) have never been on Silver Lake but if it is
still truly acidic it could harbor many state endangered species.
Acidic habitat (or even circumneutral habitat) is very rare in the
state. We have been following this issue in your emails and have
decided to get out there in our kayaks early this summer. The problem
is that this may be too late depending upon the time frame of the
proposed developments. It wouldn't be worth going out and doing an
aquatic plant inventory until at least early May at the earliest for
the submerged aquatics. Sorry to hear about Phil. Is the cancer serious
and is he receiving chemo? I'm doing my best to get things done and
will hopefully have the drafts edited in a week or so.
Issues like this one are important but I receive many of
these that eat up considerable time.
Robin
Robin,
When you and Mitch did your aquatic plant survey three years ago did
you include Silver Lake ? Have you ever read about the plants which
show up after a bog burns and later floods? Is there a name for a body
of water created in such a way? I wonder if all bogs undergo a cycle of
vegetating, burning, flooding, and filling again as their longer-term
eutrophication takes place? If so, it would seem dependent on
weather or climate patterns. I'm wondering if the same features
which have branded this body of water as a useless swamp might prove to
be interesting to a w ider audience of naturalists ?
I'm also wondering if there are any signs that Silver Lake is returning
to a bog (vegetation growing across the top) instead of more gradually
filling as plants die, decay, and fill the lake from the bottom.
How long does it take for a bog to become a bog? A few decades or a few
centuries ?
Walt
**********************************************************************************************************************
Laurie Eberhardt's response to bird migration issue, &
suggestions on other species
Sent: Thursday, March 11, 2004 11:31 AM
From: Laurie Eberhardt <Laurie.Eberhardt@valpo.edu>
Date: Thu Mar 11, 2004 9:50:45 AM US/Central
To: noelevan@netnitco.net
Subject: Re: NYTimes.com Article: For Wildlife, Migration Is Endangered
Too
Noel,
I'm glad you are still trying! It's true that this region at the
tip of Lake Michigan is unique for migrating birds as many get funneled
either in avoidance of the water (land birds going north follow shore)
or because of it (water birds going south). This is one reason
why the little strip of trees on the shore in the very NW tip of
Indiana is called the 'migrant trap'. There isn't any other
suitable habitat around in a sea of industry so many migrants
concentrate there.&n bsp; I don't think we would have a similar
situation at Silver Lake. Although it has a
beautiful, undeveloped south shore, there are lots of other lake shores
like that in the immediate area. Also, as 13 miles south of the
Lake Michigan shore, we have already lost most of the most
concentrating 'funnel effect' of Lake Michigan here in
Valparaiso. You could certainly make the arguement that any wild
green space is of value to migrants, but I think it would be a stretch
to say Silver Lake is unique in migrant habitat.
My best guess at reasons why Silver Lake might pose a special habitat
for biodiversity would be breeding birds like threatened marsh wren or
rails (and I could check this in May when breeding starts), endangered
water plants (have you talked to Robin Scribailo about this?), or
unique amphibian habitat (I assume Alan has covered this). These
are just guesses about the most likely places to find something unique
to justify saving the land.
On Thu, 11 Mar 2004 08:26:34 -0500 (EST) noelevan@netnitco.net
wrote:
The article below from NYTimes.com has been sent to you by
noelevan@netnitco.net.
Hi, all,
This article struck me as possibly having some relevance to S.L. I've
heard Alan comment on the funnel effect of southern Lake Michigan for
migrating birds, and therefore want to ask about the implications
should we find a threatened mirgrating bird resting at S.L. Are
there any species contenders for this, Alan, L aurie?
Still trying,
Noel
noelevan@netnitco.net
For Wildlife, Migration Is En dangered Too. March 9, 2004.
By JIM ROBBINS
Around the world, many great overland migrations have ended as more and
more habitat is converted to human use.
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/09/science/