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Parks Canada - Canada's Great Lakes aquatic wildlifeThis page has been archived.
Information identified as archived on the Web is for reference, research or recordkeeping purposes. It has not been altered or updated after the date of archiving. Web pages that are archived on the Web are not subject to the Government of Canada Web Standards. As per the Communications Policy of the Government of Canada, you can request alternate formats on the "Contact Us" page. Canada’s National Marine Conservation Areas System PlanCanada’s Great Lakes Aquatic Wildlife
Some 180 species of fish were native to the Great Lakes, with species composition varying from lake to lake due to the different characteristics of each. Many indigenous species have disappeared over the past 200 years, primarily as a result of human activities. Several species have been introduced, either intentionally (such as coho, chinook and Atlantic salmon) or accidentally (sea lamprey, goldfish, zebra mussel), often to the detriment of the native species. The Great Lakes are used heavily by a few species of seabirds, notably herring and ring-billed gulls, which have adapted to the large-scale presence of humans. Use by waterfowl and shorebirds is generally low, particularly when compared to the other marine environments. More than 36 million people live within the Great Lakes Basin, making these marine regions the most densely populated coastal areas in the country. A closed system with a slow outflow, the Great Lakes are especially vulnerable to pollution and are subject to major, potentially long-lasting damage. |
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