ABSTRACT
28Lake classification systems have been reviewed to provide background information for the development of classification and inventory techniques for Great Lakes aquatic habitats. Characteristics of lakes and their drainage systems used in classification are numerous and approaches range from single variables such as surface area or total phosphorus to complex multivariate models. Almost all abiotic and biotic factors that influence lake metabolism have been used in classification schemes. Of the 32 categories reviewed, 24 were trophic classifications, reflecting the recent interest in quantifying the eutrophication process. Habitat is a major factor in determining fish community structure and, in turn, influences fish production and yield. In general, some habitat variables that characterize lakes on the basis of fish associations are also useful for empirical prediction of fish production and yield. We suggest that there may be advantages of simplicity, availability of data, and relevance in including these variables in habitat classification systems. Because of the local nature of climate, basin morphometry, and edaphic inputs, lakes classified by fish communities may also be classified on a regional basis. For fisheries agencies responsible for large numbers of lakes, regional classification may be an expedient first ordering of fisheries habitat.
