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Zooplankton
Microscopic animals, zooplankton includes single-cell protozoan and the multi-cell metazoans. Normally too small to be visible by the naked eye, this class of animals feeds on microalgae and fungi -- though there are some larger species that eat smaller zooplankton. These organisms are mobile, relying on a whip-like tail, small feet called cilia or the foot-shaped pseudopodia to move throughout the pond. And though they are not bacteria or viruses, if ingested, some zooplankton can harbor and transmit diseases to humans.
Photoplankton
Greek for "wandering plant," photoplankton are often found on the pond's surface. Though an individual organism is too small to be seen by the naked eye, millions of photoplankton can make the water appear to have a greenish coloration, due to the presence of chlorophyll in their cells. A single-cell organism, photoplankton uses the sun as a source of energy and can play a key role in oxygenating the water.
Algae
Algae are plants that attach themselves to rocks substrates and line the bottom of a pond, giving them a green, almost slimy appearance. Available in microscopic and larger visible varieties, the pond plant can grow up to 165 inches long. Algae is a simplified plant, only composed of a nucleus and cell membrane, lacking leaves or roots, like other plant species. However, algae can carry out photosynthesis and is another organism that help to produce oxygen in the ponds.
Detritovores
Ponds have organisms that help to decompose animal waste, called detritovores, which help to turn plant and animal decay into essential nutrients for the pond's ecosystem. Also called detritophages or detritus feeders, this class of organism normally resides on the bottom of the pond where the decaying matter settles. Bacteria, fungi and protists are all detritovores that absorb their food through their cell membranes and produce carbon dioxide. Because they are microscopic in size, detritovores are often an important food source for zooplankton.