Our Digital Field GuideOf the Skokie Lagoons

By: Dylan, Nicholle, Carlos, Kevin, and Gillian

Home

History of the Skokie Lagoon

 • The site of Skokie Lagoons was previously a marsh, known by the

Potawatomi name Chewbab Skokie ("Big Wet Prairie") or Skokie Marsh. 

   • The Marsh was partially drained by local farmers, leaving a

peatbog.    •  During spring floods it became a lake that inundated adjacent

property and roads.

Skokie Lagoon Climate

• Hot in Summer  Average temp is between  60 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit  • Cold in Winter  

Average temp is between   26 to 41 degrees Fahrenheit   • The Spring could be hot, warm, cold, or cool

A WinterAverage temp is between 33 to 59 degrees Fahrenheit.

 

Recreation at the Skokie Lagoon

You Could....Bike

Fish

Bird watch 

Kayak

 Canoe     

Explore the forest, prairie and lagoon.

  

   Map of Skokie Lagoons                                                      

Geology

 •  As far as we saw at the Skokie lagoons, it was flat land.

  • In the shallowest end of the Lagoon, you would most likely

find larvae     

Ecology & Ecosystems

• There are many diverse organisms in or around the Lagoon   • All the organisms get along, and there is no fighting for

resources

Best natural features at the Skokie Lagoons

• The Lagoon• Rocks• Muck • Trees• Plants• Drift wood• Grass• Water

T

Classes near Skokie Lagoon• Protists• Fungi• Plants• Inverts

• Invertebrates• Aves• Mammals• Fish • Reptiles

Protist: AmoebaScientific names: Amoeba Proteus Genus: Amoeba Species: A. Proteus

Kingdom: Amoebozoa Phylum:  Tubulinea Interesting Fact:This small protozoan uses tentacular protuberances called pseudopodia to move.

Fungi: AcremoniumScientific names:  Acremonium alternatum

 Genus:  Acremonium Species: Alternatum

Kingdom:  Fungi Phylum: Ascomycota

Interesting Fact:  Many species of Acremonium are recognized as opportunistic pathogens of man and animals, causing mycetoma, onychomycosis, and hyalohyphomycosis.

Plant: BuckthornScientific name:  Rhamnus cathartica Genus: Rhamnus Species: Cathartica 

Kingdom:  Plantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Interesting Fact: They are native throughout the temperate and subtropical Northern Hemisphere, and also more locally in the subtropical Southern Hemisphere in parts of Africa and  South America.

 

Invertebrate: MosquitoesScientific name: Anopheles gambiae Genus: Culicidae Species: Culiseta

Kingdom:  Animalia Phylum: Arthopoda Interesting Fact:  An adult female mosquito consumes about 5-millionths of a liter in a single blood meal.

Ave: Green HeronScientific name: Butorides virescens Genus: Butorides Species: B. virescens

Kingdom:  Animalia Phylum:  Chordata Interesting Fact: A group of herons has many collective nouns, including a "battery", "hedge", "pose", "rookery", and "scattering" of herons."

Mammal: Gray FoxScientific name: Urocyon cinereoargenteus Genus:  Urocyon Species: CinereoargenteusKingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Interesting Fact: Gray fox are considered omnivores, therefore they eat a wide variety of foods. Small mammals, eggs, fruit, birds, insects, nuts, berries, and lizards are some of their food choices.

Fish: Largemouth BassScientific name: Micropterus salmoides Genus: Micropterus Species:Black BassKingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Interesting Fact: They were originally found only East of the Mississippi River and South of the Great Lakes in the  continental United States.

Reptile: TurtleScientific name: Testudines Genus:  Terrapene Species: Terrapene ornataKingdom: Animalia  Phylum: Chordata  Interesting Fact: The first known turtles existed 200 million years ago.