Ecosystems for Ponds in Florida

The pond ecosystems of Florida have been altered by drainage water and seasonal water-level fluctuations. While there are presently 150,000 wading birds in Florida's system of ponds, in 1870 there were over 2.5 million.

Seasonal Changes

• Ponds retain their water longer than other wetland ecosystems.

Location

• Pond ecosystems are found throughout Florida, but are most numerous in the Florida Everglades. The largest pond ecosystems are in the northern region of the Everglades.

Lifecycle

• Ponds undergo a transformation process from pond to marsh to swamp to hardwood hammock (closed canopy forest habitat for many species of wildlife, plants and trees). If organic matter accumulates in the pond faster than the underlying bedrock is dissolved, the process is accelerated.

Algae

• The dense concentration of microorganisms that require oxygen and other nutrients profoundly affects water chemistry. multicolored algae image by Nikolai Sorokin from Fotolia.com

  Periphyton, a community of aquatic plants, animals and microorganisms, is an important component within the pond ecosystem. It thrives in shallow water, forming dense, calcareous mats that are several inches thick. Filamentous algae, a major component of the calcareous mat, precipitate calcite and release oxygen through photosynthesis.

Wildlife

• The heron is a permanent resident of Florida's pond ecosystem. heron image by claudiu bota from Fotolia.com

  Approximately 44 native and 16 exotic species of fish exist in pond ecosystems. A wide variety of waterfowl, such as the green heron, wood ibis and the grate egret make up the eco-community. Some are permanent residents of the ecosystem, while others migrate from the north during the winter.