Freshwater Ponds

• Freshwater is defined as having less than one percent salt. Natural ponds are formed from the dips in the land and hollows found near rivers and lakes. Some ponds are created for irrigation and drainage. Freshwater ponds provide water for wildlife and livestock, an environment for birds, insects, fish and algae. The ecosystem of freshwater has amphibians like frogs and toads, as well as endless varieties of plants.
  
  

Aquatic Plants

• Aquatic plants grow in a different environment than garden plants. Water has lower concentrations of oxygen and carbon dioxide. The light penetration on ponds and freshwater areas can be lower for some submerged plants. Floating leafed varieties of water plants are wider and sturdier to hold up against water movement. The fully emerged leaves share similarities with land plants in the surrounding area.
  
  

Algae

• Algae are a necessary part of all freshwater environments. Pond scum is algae. As it makes its food it delivers much-needed oxygen to the water. It is the bottom of the food chain in a freshwater pond. Algae cover rocks and items in a pond with a green or brown hair-like growth. Algae are not animal, plant or fungi; some species of algae are multicellular while others are single celled. When too much algae forms, it depletes the water of needed oxygen and other plants begin to die off.
  
  

Types

• Floating plants have broad leaves that shed water to absorb more sun. Examples of floating pond plants are water lily, pondweed, floating heart and water-chestnut. Aerial or emerged leaves are thin and have a waxy feel. These include cattails, buttercups, arrowleaf, knotweed and bur-reed. Underwater or submerged leaves get low sun and must withstand water movement. These would include elodea, ditch-grass and horned-pondweed.
  
  

Distribution

• Freshwater aquatic plants are distributed from one pond to another usually by means of the birds that use the ponds. Seeds get stuck in muddy feet or in the feathers and are carried off. Seeds can also travel in the digestive tract of different birds and are expelled in a new location.