The lakeshore (or littoral zone) is the shallow area along the shoreline of a lake or pond that supports diverse communities of rooted plants and serves as food, habitat and protective shelter for fish, insects, amphibians and other aquatic animals. These diverse plant communities also provide cover and nesting materials for a variety of wild birds and mammals. Management of littoral zones is often necessary due to shoreline erosion, overgrowth of invasive plants and removal of protective vegetation.