Activity

At the Edge of a Lake

There are lots of things you can look for at the edge of a lake; fossils in the rocks, tracks of terrestrial animals, as well as the plants and animals that live in the water. On the water's surface you can find water striders and whirligig beetles. These insects communicate and hunt by feeling vibrations on the water's surface. Many insects spend the first part of their lives (the larval stage) in water. You can find mosquito larvae and their predators, dragonfly and damselfly larvae near the water's surface. Caddisfly larvae live on the bottom of lakes and ponds in shallow water where they build a little house out of sticks and debris for protection.

When the insects are ready they moult into adult form, then climb out of the water on a plant and fly away. Bigger animals such as tadpoles and frogs, newts and small fish may also be found at the edge of a lake. To get a better look at all these animals you can make a waterscope. All you need is a large plastic container (a 2 litre ice cream container works well), plastic wrap and duct tape.


Waterscope

Ask an adult to cut the bottom out of the container then stretch clear plastic wrap over the bottom and secure it with duct tape so it will be waterproof. You can lower the plastic covered end into the water to get a good view of what's down there. This works best when you are standing on the shore or leaning over the edge of a boat or wharf. Walking in the lake will stir up mud, making it difficult to see through the water.

Back