Lakes and ponds are water bodies that account for about 3% of the surface of Earth.They are habitats and food sources for various species of animals and plants. Unlike the oceans and seas, lakes and ponds are smaller in size.Lakes and ponds are also useful for humans. The ecosystems contained in these water bodies are a significant part of the environment. These water bodies are distinguished from rivers and streams by being still water. While the water in streams and rivers is constantly flowing (except for the ones that freeze during winter), the water in lakes and ponds remains still inside the perimeter. Water circulation takes place only within the water bodies.As such, the species of animals living in lakes and ponds differ from those living in rivers, streams, seas, and oceans. Read on to explore what animals reside in the lakes and ponds present all over the world.What animals would live in a lake?A lake can be both a saltwater habitat and freshwater habitat. Moreover, lakes can be natural or artificial. Each of these categories of lakes has different animals living in it. The type of animal species that resides in a lake depends on the geographical region in which the lake is present, as well as the surrounding ecosystem.There are many varieties of fish that live in lakes. The different species of fish that can be found in lakes include catfish, perch, trout fish, bass fish, and salmon. A freshwater fish that is commonly found in lakes present all over the world is the northern pike. Major populations of northern pikes in the United States can be found in New England, northern New Mexico, the Great Lakes Basin, Arizona, and Alaska.There are also various species of snakes that live near or in lakes. The snake species found in lakes that are most dangerous are the poisonous water moccasin. These reptiles are also known as cottonmouth. Being a type of pit viper, the venomous water moccasin is the only species of venomous water snake that is found in North America.A slightly less dangerous snake species that live near lakes is the Lake Erie water snake. It does not reside inside the lake but in the nearby vicinity. The Lake Erie snake has the ability to swim on the surface of lake water as well as dive in to chase its prey. In addition to snakes and fish, other animals that live inside the lake as well as around it include beavers, otters, and minks.There are also birds like geese, ducks, and marsh birds that live on the surface of lakes. Amphibians such as toads and frogs are also found living near lakes and are often seen diving in to find some food. Snakes are not the only reptiles found living in and around lakes; turtles also reside in this aquatic habitat.In addition to lake animals and birds, various insects also build their homes within and around lakes. These insects include water beetles, dragonflies, and water bugs. Water striders have the ability to walk on the surface of lake water, which is made possible with their long legs.Meanwhile, water boatmen swim in the waters of ponds, lakes, and rivers with the help of oar-shaped structures located on their hind legs. These insects further become a food source for various mammals and fish living in lakes.What animals are found in a pond?Ponds are also places that become a habitat, temporary or permanent, for various animal and insect species. Ponds and lakes share many similarities as water bodies. This contributes to similar animal species finding their homes in ponds that can also be found in lakes.One of the aquatic species that can be found in both lakes and ponds is fish. This includes freshwater fish such as crayfish, koi fish, largemouth bass, bluegill fish, and catfish. The fish species living inside ponds are accompanied by amphibians such as frogs and toads, and birds such as geese and ducks. While the amphibians live in the water of ponds as well as in the surroundings, birds only stay on the surface of ponds.Ponds are also home to turtles, insects, raccoons, and earthworms. They live in the surrounding area of a pond. While there are similar animals in lakes and ponds, not all animals living in both aquatic spaces are the same. There can be a difference in the particular species of animals living in and around lakes and ponds.Lakes And Ponds FactsLakes and ponds are water bodies that have their own ecosystem. They are categorized as lentic systems with different species of plants and animals living within the water and in the surrounding areas. These water bodies not only provide a home to different animals but also become a source of food and water for both terrestrial and aquatic animals.The title of the deepest lake is held by Baikal Lake, located in Asia, while the largest lake is considered to be Lake Superior which is in North America.The formation of lakes and ponds depends on diverse processes. Lakes can be formed when the depression caused by the geologic upliftment of certain mountains is filled with water. An inactive volcano’s crater can also create a lake.Another important factor that has contributed to the creation of lakes and ponds is the movements of glaciers. An oxbow lake is formed when a meandering turn in a river breaks off from the main portion of the river. These water bodies can also be created by humans. An artificial lake or pond is created for the purpose of being a water source for humans and the livestock they raise. These artificial water bodies may also be used to generate energy and power as well as provide a flood control strategy.A pond is distinguished from a lake through its size. A lake is generally larger than a pond and also much deeper than a pond. When a lake is very deep, sunlight is only able to penetrate to a few layers. There is a possibility that the bottom layers may not receive sunlight at all. However, on the banks of a lake, where the water is shallow, sunlight is able to penetrate to the bottom.A pond, in general, receives sunlight in all the water layers if it is shallow enough. This creates a further distinction between the two water bodies in terms of the biotic and abiotic elements present on the bottom layers. The layers that get sunlight will have different biotic and abiotic elements than the layers that do not receive light.As there is no sunlight penetrating the deepest layers of lakes, the organisms living there cannot participate in photosynthesis to create energy. They have to be dependent on things in the water, such as the carcass of a dead animal that sinks down. There are also certain threats to the lentic systems. One of these threats is invasive species that can destroy the existing ecosystem in order to establish itself.Ponds And Lakes ClimateBoth ponds and lakes are freshwater habitats and they share many similar features. However, they are still two distinct water bodies. One of the features of lakes and ponds that fluctuates regularly is the temperature of the water within them.As lakes are larger and deeper than ponds, the exact water temperature varies throughout the depths accordingly. The climate or the temperature of both a pond and a lake can change according to the season.During summer, the water temperature at the surface becomes high while that at the bottom it will remain low. This will only occur in lakes with more depth than a pond. Shallower or small ponds might have the same temperature at the surface and at the bottom with only a minute difference.A phenomenon known as thermal stratification takes place in lakes during different seasons. The stratification is created through the interaction between temperature and wind turbulence. This further leads to water circulation in lakes. The water gets circulated through wind turbulence during springtime, which provides the required oxygen to animals and plants living within the water.Thermal stratification occurs when the wind subsides and the water temperature rises during summer. This creates distinct temperature layers within the water column. The upper layer of warm water is called epilimnion, while the lower layer consisting of cold water is known as hypolimnion. These two water layers are divided by a thermocline. As there is no strong wind turbulence to circulate the water in the hypolimnion, there is a scarcity of oxygen.When the temperature cools down during winter, circulation is restored in the whole of the lake. It then equalizes the oxygen concentration within the entire lake. During winter, there is a reverse stratification that can take place in the lakes with the cold water at the surface resting on warm water lower down.Ponds experience a little amount of thermal stratification when summer arrives. Water circulation in a pond occurs due to the mediation of wind.
Lakes and ponds are water bodies that account for about 3% of the surface of Earth.
