Don't worry... it's only 1/100th of an inch big. That's why you've never seen it. But it is there in the LAKE with you... swimming around! It's a Bosmina longirostris -- a zooplankton commonly found in Lake George. This picture is courtesy of the Dept. of Biological Science at the University of New Hampshire.
The B.longirostris eats phytoplankton... small plants and plant-like algae. In turn, the B.longirostris is eaten by the fish of Lake George. It's a vital part of the Lake's ecosystem and food chain, and an important indicator of the Lake's health. Lake scientists monitor the population levels of creatures like the B.longirostris to determine whether there has been a disruption in the ecosystem.
Just thought you ought to know a bit more about this small and important swimming buddy who's been there with you all along! You can also learn more on the LGA's website -- look under the Education tab, and click on "food webs," or better yet... join us on a Floating Classroom trip this summer (the boat goes out every Wednesday in July and August) and capture zooplankton with a plankton net (pictured above) and take a close look at it (under a field microscope)!
lake George Association