Lake Champlain’s Lakemounts: Are they Freshwater Biodiversity Hotspots?

This K-12 lesson plan highlights ongoing research in Lake Champlain that explores how lakemounts may influence the lake ecosystem. This lesson draws on the effects seamounts have on deep ocean environments. We explore biological-physical interactions using a physical model (upwelling) and infer how various organisms may be adapted to thrive in various lake environments (nearshore, offshore, or lakemounts). The upwelling demonstration is adapted from the NOAA Explorations “Investigation: Seamounts and Biological Productivity” lesson.