The Louis Calder Center is Fordham University's biological field station.
The lake bottom is more than half covered by a submersed macrophyte community, including Vallisneria americana, Elodea canadensis, Potamogeton amplifolius, and Najas flexilis.
Since Calder Lake is relatively small, the surrounding flora (including Quercus rubra, Quercus prinus, Acer rubrum, Fagus grandifolia, and Cornus florida) plays a significant role in its ecology, as falling leaves add nutrients to the water.
The production rates of bacteria and larger phytoplankton in the lake are limited by the supply of inorganic phosphorus.
Dissolved organic carbon exists between 4–6 mg C/L in the lake.