AboutRichard Ochs Expertise I can answer questions regarding basic ecology (grade
school through high school). I can also answer some
college level questions as long as they aren't extremely technical.
Experience I had been a Park Ranger/Naturalist at Grand Teton National Park for 3 summers. Prior to that I was a naturalist for 4 summers at Cattus Island County Park in New Jersey. I also graduated from Rutgers University with a BS in Natural Resource Management.
Education/Credentials BS in Natural Resource Management from Rutgers University, with honors.
Awards and Honors Philip Alampi Scholar, Moorestown Rotary Scholar, Golden Key National Honor Society member.
Expert: Richard Ochs Date: 1/13/2008 Subject: grade school science
Question How does a lake become a forest?
Answer The process where a lake becomes a forest is called eutrophication. Every lake/pond is slowly going through this process. This is where runoff into lakes bring nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrates and deposits them. Human activities such as fertilizing lawns and also non-native animal species such as Canada geese living nearby can hasten this process. Fertilizers contain nitrates and phosphorus, and so does geese poop. These two items running into a nearby lake are essentially providing food for plant life in the lake. The plants then grow at a much faster rate. When these plants die, they begin to pile up and provide a feeding ground for various bacteria. As the bacteria break down the dead plants, they use up the oxygen in the lake. This in turn kills any fish in the lake that may eat the bacteria or plants. What happens then is that these bacteria and plant material pile up, reducing the level of the lake. As sediment gets caught in the slow moving water of the very shallow lake, this helps to fill the lake in more quickly. Eventually the lake becomes a swamp, the swamp a meadow, then the meadow a forest.
I hope that this helps, and if you have any questions feel free to write again.
