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

hmayfield@orsanco.org

Thank You!!