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Littoral Zones Littoral Zones comprise shallow Nearshore areas link terrestrial water communities between the and aquatic ecosystems and are open water areas of a lake and crucial for sustaining amphibian surrounding land. Technically, and reptile populations . littoral zones begin on land where the water table lies only a As higher demands are placed on foot or two below the soil lake front property, development surface and extend to the maximum activities can compromise wetland depth where rooted aquatic plants and littoral zone functions . grow. An expansive littoral zone Extensive pier and seawall could begin with a riparian constructions destroy and wetland community and extend far fragment aquatic plant from shore. communities, along with the beneficial life cycle and food The maximum depth of rooted producing habitats . Cumulative aquatic plant growth usually effects of many individual near determines the extent of the shore modifications reduce fish littoral zone from shore. It is production, herptile limited by either light populations, biodiversity and penetration or one atmosphere of water quality. hydrostatic pressure (- 33 feet) . Macrophyte growth is often Seawalls create a barrier to frog restricted to shallower depths and turtle movements between the due to natural lake fertility or terrestrial and aquatic cultural eutrophication. In environments. Bullfrogs, fertile impoundments and pickerel frogs and Blanding' s eutrophic lakes around the state, turtles are declining due to abundant free floating algae these types of shoreline (phytoplankton) cloud the water developments . Extensive piers and limit light penetration, shade out oxygen producing thereby reducing rooted plant aquatic plants and reduce photosynthesis and growth. valuable habitat . While the maximum rooting depth These and other littoral zone can vary greatly from one lake to disturbances also increase the the next, the shallow water area potential for Eurasian encompassing three feet or less watermilfoil invasions . This is the most crucial habitat exotic plant has created severe affecting lake productivity and water quality and nuisance biodiversity. The warmer conditions throughout North shallow water areas provide America and Wisconsin. Millions important spawning, nursery and of dollars have been spent on life sustaining functions for attempts to control this unwanted myriads of fish, waterfowl and exotic. other aquatic organisms. Scores of minute plants and animals spend entire or partial life cycles within the rooted aquatic plant beds . "Invisible" , but important residents of the littoral zone and lake food web include attached algae, sponges, mollusks, crustaceans, microcrustaceans, insects, and forage fish such as darters.