Order of Pond Succession

Heavy equipment is used to form a new pond.

No organisms are found initially in the pond.

Algae and bacteria invade the pond.

Heterotrophs and small invertebrates move into the pond.

Floating plants, like pond weeds, grow in the pond.

Cattails and other large plants grow around the edges of the pond.

Larger animals arrive at the pond.

Runoff water brings sediment deposits into the pond.

The pond becomes a marsh area as sediments fill the pond.

Grasses and short plants grow on the top of the soil that fills the pond.

Shrubs and short-lived trees begin to be the dominant plant in the area.

Oak trees become the dominant plant in the area.