Comparing Zooplankton Communities of Unfished Lakes In Vilas County Wisconsin

This research assessed the zooplankton communities of Wolters Lake located in Vilas County Wisconsin. These lakes have been protected from public access and in turn are populated by unaffected legacy communities. In order to assess the communities, quantitative counts of the species are done with a ward counting wheel. By comparing population data from samples collected in the summer of 2014 to ones from a previous study in 2002, shifts and variation in the communities can be analyzed. These results will conclude if the system is degrading or staying stable. Through monitoring these protected lakes, results from this study can act as a reference for lakes in northern Wisconsin affected by human activity