Pond Life

Vocabulary Habitat- A place in an ecosystem where a population lives Habitat- A place in an ecosystem where a population lives Ecosystem- A community and its physical environment together Ecosystem- A community and its physical environment together

Habitats Must provide each species present with all of its life needs Must provide each species present with all of its life needs Food Food Water Water Oxygen Oxygen Space Space Protection from predators Protection from predators Protection from temperature extremes Protection from temperature extremes Breeding places Breeding places

Limiting Factors The lack of any of species’ life needs becomes a limiting factor The lack of any of species’ life needs becomes a limiting factor Limiting factor effects size of population and size of species Limiting factor effects size of population and size of species

Habitat- PONDS

Surface Surface= The top part of the pond Surface= The top part of the pond Surface film- the boundary between the water and the air Surface film- the boundary between the water and the air Different groups of organisms can be found living on the upper surface clinging to the underside Different groups of organisms can be found living on the upper surface clinging to the underside Insects- renew their supply of oxygen Insects- renew their supply of oxygen Terrestrial insects- provide a food source Terrestrial insects- provide a food source

Open Water Open Water= Deeper water away from the shore Open Water= Deeper water away from the shore Contains free swimming organisms Contains free swimming organisms Fish Fish Free floating plants and animals Free floating plants and animals

Pond Animals

Mammals- Beavers, raccoons, muskrats Mammals- Beavers, raccoons, muskrats Birds- ducks, red winged blackbirds, swallows Birds- ducks, red winged blackbirds, swallows Reptiles- turtles, snakes Reptiles- turtles, snakes Amphibians- frogs, toads, newts, salamanders Amphibians- frogs, toads, newts, salamanders Fish Fish Insects- mosquitoes, dragonflies, mayflies, etc. Insects- mosquitoes, dragonflies, mayflies, etc. Crayfish, clams, snails, spiders, worms Crayfish, clams, snails, spiders, worms

Bottom Bottom= The lower area where dead material settles and decomposes Bottom= The lower area where dead material settles and decomposes Receives dead material (detritus) Receives dead material (detritus) Feces Feces Dead plants Dead plants Dead animals Dead animals Material from land organisms that live near by Material from land organisms that live near by Many living things reside on bottom taking advantage of dependable quantities of food Many living things reside on bottom taking advantage of dependable quantities of food Temperatures more consistent toward bottom Temperatures more consistent toward bottom Oxygen levels low Oxygen levels low

Zones

Shore Region/Zones Contains many zones Contains many zones Zone of emergent vegetation Zone of emergent vegetation Cattails, rooted plants that raise their leaves above surface Cattails, rooted plants that raise their leaves above surface Zone of Floating Leafed Plants Zone of Floating Leafed Plants Water is too deep for emergent plants Water is too deep for emergent plants Zone of Submerged Vegetation Zone of Submerged Vegetation Plants living on the bottom Plants living on the bottom All of these zones form a distinct habitat for animals All of these zones form a distinct habitat for animals

Life Cycle of a Pond A pond is a community of plants and animals which has a definite life span A pond is a community of plants and animals which has a definite life span May be built by beavers, humans, or glaciers May be built by beavers, humans, or glaciers Young ponds are relatively deep, but have a limited supply of nutrients for plant growth Young ponds are relatively deep, but have a limited supply of nutrients for plant growth As a pond ages, nutrients are added as plants and animals die and decay As a pond ages, nutrients are added as plants and animals die and decay Types of plants and animals living in the pond depend change as environmental conditions change Types of plants and animals living in the pond depend change as environmental conditions change

Succession Eventually the pond will be completely filled in and become a meadow Eventually the pond will be completely filled in and become a meadow All communities of plants and animals go through this process All communities of plants and animals go through this process

Interrelationships

Interrelationships Green plants produce their own food (photosynthesis), which uses energy from the sun and inorganic chemicals from the environment Green plants produce their own food (photosynthesis), which uses energy from the sun and inorganic chemicals from the environment All other inhabitants of a pond get food by consuming other living things or products of living things All other inhabitants of a pond get food by consuming other living things or products of living things Herbivores eat plants Herbivores eat plants Carnivores, or predators, eat animals Carnivores, or predators, eat animals Omnivores eat both plants and animals Omnivores eat both plants and animals Decomposers eat dead organisms and waste products Decomposers eat dead organisms and waste products

Energy Flow/Food Chain Green plants (algae) herbivores (tadpoles) Green plants (algae) herbivores (tadpoles) Carnivores (giant water bugs) Carnivores (giant water bugs)

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