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Algae and Plant Life
Some of the smallest organisms in the pond are microscopic algae. Free-floating algae is called phytoplankton. This is what makes pond water look green. Algae that grows on surfaces in the pond such as rocks is called periphytic algae and forms a slimy coat. Plants in the pond include many different species. Some grow entirely submerged, others float on the surface, emerge from the water or grow in the wet soil of the shoreline.
Bacteria and Animal Life
Bacteria in a pond break down decaying plant and animal material and produce carbon dioxide and water. There is also microscopic animal life called zooplankton. These can be a variety of species such as the young of larger animal life and single-celled organisms. They float in the open water. Other life forms in a pond include turtles, fish and frogs, and invertebrates such as insects. Invertebrates are animals without a backbone.
Pond Life Cycle
Animals eat other animal and plant life in a pond. They excrete carbon dioxide and produce waste. This waste includes chemicals such as nitrogen and phosphorous. Plants and algae use these nutrient chemicals and carbon dioxide to grow and produce oxygen. They also use the carbon dioxide that bacteria produce. Animals use the oxygen that plants and algae produce, and eat the decaying matter broken down by bacteria. When the ecosystem is in balance, no single life form predominates.
Effects of Excess Chemicals
When the level of nutrient chemicals in pond water is too high, plant and algal growth becomes excessive. There is too much growth for the animal life to eat. The effect can be blooms of algae, or dense blankets of vegetation. Often, external nutrient overflow into the pond habitat is the cause. This can be from fertilizer run-off, septic tank contamination or the proximity of a manure pile.