POND ECOLOGY 101
Heather MayfieldDirectorFoundation for Ohio River Education
www.kascomarine.com
Emergent Vegetation
Rooted Floating Vegetation
Submerged Vegetation
Pond Zones
https://www.slideshare.net/MakeMegenius/pond-ecosystem
Pond and Lake Classifications
•Oligotrophic- Low nutrient concentrations and low amounts of vegetation (algae and plants).
•Eutrophic- High nutrient concentrations and large amounts of vegetation.
•Mesotrophic– Somewhere in between!
Nitrogen Cycling
Source: Aquaprobiotics.com
Nitrogen Cycling
Source: Aquaprobiotics.com
• Nitrogen can be taken up by plants and algae in the form of ionized ammonia (NH
4+
Ammonium) or NO
3.
• NH3 is highly toxic and can be found at higher levels when pH is greater than 8.
• Conversion of Ammonia to Nitrate happens more quickly in warmer water.
• Conversion of Ammonia to Nitrate requires oxygen.
• Blue-green algae can “fix” Nitrogen from the atmosphere.
Phosphorous Cycling
Source: Wikimedia
Sources of Nutrients:Wastewater Industrial effluents FertilizersHerbicides Pet WasteLivestock WasteSediment (phosphorous)
https://www.mdsg.umd.edu/topics/stormwater-pond-management/pond-management
https://romickinoakley.wordpress.com/2017/06/16/harmful-algal-bloom-season-beginning-in-californias-waterways/
Source: Hoosier River Watch
• Oxygen levels can fluctuate throughout the day
• Decomposition of dead algae and other matter can cause drops in oxygen
https://www.amazon.com/CHEMetrics-K-7512-Dissolved-Oxygen-Range/dp/B00N5IHZOI/ref=sxts_sxwds-bia-wc-p13n1_0?cv_ct_cx=chemetrics&dchild=1&keywords=chemetrics&pd_rd_i=B00N5IHZOI&pd_rd_r=2a61d33f-54c1-47a5-8ba1-4f65a894478d&pd_rd_w=fD2X5&pd_rd_wg=yjYAf&pf_rd_p=13bf9bc7-d68d-44c3-9d2e-647020f56802&pf_rd_r=S6YBDFPKC8W7NC6QXNQA&psc=1&qid=1597153361&sr=1-1-791c2399-d602-4248-afbb-8a79de2d236f
• pH scale is logarithmic
• pH can affect toxicity of other substances in the water
• Algae blooms can cause increases in pH
• Ammonia levels should be 0. Levels as low as .1 mg/L can be harmful to fish and aquatic life.
• Nitrite levels should also be around 0. Levels as low as .25 mg/L can be toxic to fish and aquatic life.
• Nitrate levels of more than 3 mg/L can indicate nutrient pollution. For protection of aquatic life, levels should ideally remain below 5 mg/L.
Nitrogen
https://www.amazon.com/API-POND-MASTER-Water-500-Test/dp/B0002DJNN0/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=pond+master+kit&qid=1597152885&sr=8-2
Ponds and lakes used for swimming and other recreation should have less than 126 colonies of bacteria per 100 mL of water.
Assume HAB event if you observe:
• Fish kills, dead livestock, critters or birds
• Surface water is discolored with surface scum (red, green or brown)
• Thick mats of algae on shoreline• Smells bad
Sampling Safety
Sampling Supplies•Gloves
•Bucket with line
• Sample Bottles
• Safety glasses
•Waste disposal bottle for test chemicals
•Paper towels
•Access to clean water and soap after sampling
www.riverlearning.org
Thank You!!