The document provides information on the Great Lakes ecosystem, including its fish, bird, plant, and mammal species. It describes the lake trout, brook trout, lake sturgeon, yellow perch, pumpkinseed sunfish, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, walleye, Chinook salmon, and coho salmon. It also lists bird species like the American bittern, northern goshawk, and bald eagle. Key plant species discussed are the blue violet, white oak, white lady-slipper, snow trillium, and white pine. Mammal species mentioned are the timber wolf, white-tailed deer, coyote, black squirrel, otter, and raccoon.

1. Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem Learn about the largest freshwater ecosystem in the world and it’s right in our back yard. Quit

13. Blue violet ( Viola sororia ) The blue violet can be found throughout the entire Great Lakes basin, and is Minnesota's and Illinois' state flower. The violet's colors can vary, ranging from blue to yellow, white, lilac and even green. White oak ( Quercus alba ) The white oak, Illinois' state tree, is a flowering angiosperm that can grow to be 100 feet tall, three feet wide, and can live to be 400 years old! The tree has grayish-white bark, which gives its name, and green-brown acorns. In the fall, the leaves will turn a variety of colors including red, gold, yellow, or purple. Quit Plant Species

14. Key Characteristics Small orchid (20-30 cm) of prairie fens and lake plain prairies; leaves narrowly elliptic; flower a small ivory-white pouch-like slipper. Key Characteristics Small forbs (10 cm) of forested floodplains; leaves small (3-4 cm), oval and bluish, with distinct petioles; flowers stalked, small, white with 3 narrow petals (1 cm wide), blooming in early April. Quit Plant Species White Lady-slipper Cypripedium candidum White Lady-slipper Cypripedium candidum Snow Trillium Trillium nivale

15. White pine ( Pinus strobus ) The white pine, Michigan's state tree, is considered to be the largest conifer in the northeastern United States. The needles are soft, bluish-green to silver green in color and are regularly arranged in bundles of five. The eastern white pine forests in the lower peninsula of Michigan and northern Wisconsin were clear-cut for lumber from 1850 to 1890; standing over 200 feet (60 meters) tall, each tree could provide 6,000 board feet (10 cubic meters) of lumber. However, reforestation efforts are beginning the slow regrowth of this much loved tree. Quit Houghton’s Goldenrod ( Oligoneuron houghtonii ) This shoreline goldenrod grows nowhere else in the world but along the Great Lakes shoreline, mostly along the northern shores of Lakes Michigan and Huron. Increased human activity, such as foot and car traffic, along shorelines has caused Houghton's goldenrod to be listed as a threatened species. Plant Species

18. Quit Mammal Species Timber Wolf Canis lupus A full grown timber wolf weighs from 70 to 100 pounds. Powerfully built with steel-strong jaws, muscular legs, and large feet, the wolf is an efficient predator. The Timber Wolf was once endanger of becoming extinct, but they have finally returned to the Michigan. This drawing was created by Catie Burcroff

19. Quit Mammal Species White Tailed Deer Odocoileus virginianus White-tailed deer are the smallest of the three members of the deer family found in Michigan, the others being elk and moose. They range throughout Michigan and are a game animal in this state. “White-tailed" refers to the distinctive white tail that when raised is a flag and provides a flash of white, signaling other deer when there is danger. Deer are graceful and swift runners (up to 35 miles per hour), but do not generally run long distances, preferring to seek the nearest shelter whenever possible.

20. Quit Mammal Species Coyotes can often live six to eight years in the wild. Coyotes can be difficult to distinguish from a medium sized German shepherd dog from a distance. There is wide variation in the coyote's color, but generally their upper body is yellowish gray, and the fur covering the throat and belly is white to cream color. The coyote's ears are pointed and stand erect, unlike the ears of domestic dogs that often droop. When observed running, coyotes carry their bushy, black tipped tail below the level of their back. Wolves, which are found in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, are larger than coyotes and carry their tail in a horizontal position while running. Coyote Canis latrans

21. Quit Mammal Species Black Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis Freshwater Otter Lontra canadensis Raccoon Procyon lotor

22. Invasive Species Issues in the Great Lakes Ecosystem Quit Invasive Species These species compete with the native species for food and territory. The invasive or alien species do not have natural predators to reduce their numbers so they over populate an area were they are introduced and out compete the native species. Zebra mussel Spiny water flea (GLIN)Fishhook water flea (US EPA) Rusty crayfish (GLIN) New Zealand mud snail (USGS) Japanese knotweed European gypsy moth Common reed Emerald ash borer Canada thistle Asian long horned beetle (US Forest Service) TERRESTRIAL PLANTS INVERTEBRATES Water chestnut Sea Lamprey Purple loosestrife Round goby Hydrilla Northern snakehead Eurasian water milfoil Eurasian ruffe Curly leaf pondweed (GLIN) Asian carp AQUATIC PLANTS FISH

23. Quit Click video to play.

24. Author’s Slide Hi my name is Catie Burcroff and I am an Integrated Science major at Grand Valley State University. I chose to create my PowerPoint with a science theme that I thought was important for children to understand. Children must learn the importance of our Great Lakes or they will misuse them. If you have any questions about the material contained in this power point or further questions about our class please contact me at: [email_address] Quit