Threatened littoral habitats of freshwater lakes

Threats to the littoral habitat include; Eutrophication, toxic substances, sedimentation, acidification, excessive water diversion and the depletion of biodiversity.

The littoral zone is an interface zone between the land of the drainage basin and the open water of lakes. Most lakes of the world are relatively small in area and shallow. In such lakes, the littoral flora contributes significantly to the productivity, and may regulate metabolism of the entire lake ecosystem. This intensely metabolic activity is due to the presence of aquatic macrophytes.