Pond LifePond Life

VocabularyVocabulary

Habitat- A place in an ecosystem Habitat- A place in an ecosystem where a population liveswhere a population lives

Ecosystem- A community and its Ecosystem- A community and its physical environment togetherphysical environment together

HabitatsHabitats

Must provide each species present Must provide each species present with all of its life needswith all of its life needs

FoodFood WaterWater OxygenOxygen SpaceSpace Protection from predatorsProtection from predators Protection from temperature extremesProtection from temperature extremes Breeding placesBreeding places

Limiting FactorsLimiting Factors

The lack of any of species’ life needs The lack of any of species’ life needs becomes a limiting factorbecomes a limiting factor

Limiting factor effects size of Limiting factor effects size of population and size of speciespopulation and size of species

Habitat- PONDSHabitat- PONDS

SurfaceSurface

Surface= The top part of the pondSurface= The top part of the pond Surface film- the boundary between Surface film- the boundary between

the water and the airthe water and the air Different groups of organisms can be Different groups of organisms can be

found living on the upper surface found living on the upper surface clinging to the undersideclinging to the underside

Insects- renew their supply of oxygenInsects- renew their supply of oxygen Terrestrial insects- provide a food sourceTerrestrial insects- provide a food source

Open WaterOpen Water

Open Water= Deeper water away Open Water= Deeper water away from the shorefrom the shore

Contains free swimming organismsContains free swimming organisms FishFish Free floating plants and animalsFree floating plants and animals

Pond AnimalsPond Animals

Pond AnimalsPond Animals

Mammals- Beavers, raccoons, muskratsMammals- Beavers, raccoons, muskrats Birds- ducks, red winged blackbirds, Birds- ducks, red winged blackbirds,

swallowsswallows Reptiles- turtles, snakesReptiles- turtles, snakes Amphibians- frogs, toads, newts, Amphibians- frogs, toads, newts,

salamanderssalamanders FishFish Insects- mosquitoes, dragonflies, mayflies, Insects- mosquitoes, dragonflies, mayflies,

etc.etc. Crayfish, clams, snails, spiders, wormsCrayfish, clams, snails, spiders, worms

BottomBottom Bottom= The lower area where dead Bottom= The lower area where dead

material settles and decomposesmaterial settles and decomposes Receives dead material (detritus)Receives dead material (detritus)

FecesFeces Dead plantsDead plants Dead animalsDead animals Material from land organisms that live near byMaterial from land organisms that live near by

Many living things reside on bottom taking Many living things reside on bottom taking advantage of dependable quantities of foodadvantage of dependable quantities of food

Temperatures more consistent toward Temperatures more consistent toward bottombottom

Oxygen levels lowOxygen levels low

ZonesZones

Shore Region/ZonesShore Region/Zones

Contains many zonesContains many zones Zone of emergent vegetationZone of emergent vegetation

Cattails, rooted plants that raise their leaves above Cattails, rooted plants that raise their leaves above surfacesurface

Zone of Floating Leafed PlantsZone of Floating Leafed Plants Water is too deep for emergent plantsWater is too deep for emergent plants

Zone of Submerged VegetationZone of Submerged Vegetation Plants living on the bottom Plants living on the bottom

All of these zones form a distinct habitat All of these zones form a distinct habitat for animalsfor animals

Life Cycle of a PondLife Cycle of a Pond

A pond is a community of plants and animals A pond is a community of plants and animals which has a definite life spanwhich has a definite life span

May be built by beavers, humans, or glaciersMay be built by beavers, humans, or glaciers Young ponds are relatively deep, but have a Young ponds are relatively deep, but have a

limited supply of nutrients for plant growthlimited supply of nutrients for plant growth As a pond ages, nutrients are added as As a pond ages, nutrients are added as

plants and animals die and decayplants and animals die and decay Types of plants and animals living in the Types of plants and animals living in the

pond depend change as environmental pond depend change as environmental conditions changeconditions change

SuccessionSuccession

Eventually the pond will be Eventually the pond will be completely filled in and become a completely filled in and become a meadowmeadow

All communities of plants and All communities of plants and animals go through this processanimals go through this process

InterrelationshipsInterrelationships

InterrelationshipsInterrelationships Green plants produce their own food Green plants produce their own food

(photosynthesis), which uses energy from the sun (photosynthesis), which uses energy from the sun and inorganic chemicals from the environmentand inorganic chemicals from the environment

All other inhabitants of a pond get food by All other inhabitants of a pond get food by consuming other living things or products of consuming other living things or products of living thingsliving things

Herbivores eat plantsHerbivores eat plants Carnivores, or predators, eat animalsCarnivores, or predators, eat animals Omnivores eat both plants and animalsOmnivores eat both plants and animals Decomposers eat dead organisms and waste Decomposers eat dead organisms and waste

productsproducts

Energy Flow/Food ChainEnergy Flow/Food Chain

Green plants (algae) herbivores Green plants (algae) herbivores (tadpoles)(tadpoles)

Carnivores (giant water bugs) Carnivores (giant water bugs)

Any change in the environment Any change in the environment which affects one part of the which affects one part of the community will have an effect on community will have an effect on every other part of the communityevery other part of the community