Freshwater Pond

• What type of ecosystem is discussed in the study material?

  Freshwater pond
• Why is the ecosystem described as small-scale?

  It is smaller compared to large-scale ecosystems like rainforests and deserts
• What abiotic features are mentioned in the study material?

  Climate, soil, rocks, and sunlight
• How does the water level in the pond change throughout the year?

  It rises in winter and spring and decreases in summer
• What is the significance of the pond bottom in terms of oxygen levels?

  It has very little oxygen due to limited movement of water
• What types of organisms are found at the bottom of the pond?

  Decomposers like pond snails, worms, and scavengers
• What is a water worm?

  A worm that lives in water, similar to garden worms
• What is a rat-tailed maggot?

  A small aquatic insect found in ponds
• What is a water flea?

  A small parasitic insect that lives in water
• What is the great diving beetle?

  A beetle that can live both in water and on land
• What is a water lily?

  A plant with long stems that grows in ponds and can flower
• How does algae affect the appearance of a pond in summer?

  It can make the pond water appear green due to its growth
• What is found above the surface of the pond?

  Birds and food sources
• What adaptations do animals have for breathing in the pond ecosystem?

  They may breathe through gills, lungs, or skin
• What is a pond snail's role in the ecosystem?

  It is an omnivore that helps keep the pond clean
• What are tadpoles?

  They are baby frogs that live in the shallows of the pond
• What is a stickleback?

  A type of fish native to the UK that lives in ponds
• What is the mid-water zone of the pond?

  It is where fish are the main predators and gills are used for breathing
• What are biotic features of a pond?

  Living components like plants, fish, and insects
• What is the pond margin?

  It is the fluctuating area around the pond that can change with water levels
• What are bullrushes?

  Native plants that grow tall and provide food and shelter
• What is a pond marigold?

  A leafy flowering plant that can grow in or out of water
• How does grass contribute to the pond ecosystem?

  It provides hiding places for predators like herons
• What role does the heron play in the pond ecosystem?

  It is a consumer that preys on fish
• What is photosynthesis?

  It is the process by which plants convert sunlight into food
• What do plants in the pond primarily need to grow?

  Sunlight and water
• What do dragonflies primarily eat?

  Insect larvae and other small aquatic organisms
• What are the biotic and abiotic features of a freshwater pond ecosystem?

  Biotic features:

  • Plants (e.g., water lily, algae)
  • Animals (e.g., fish, pond snails, insects)

  
  

  Abiotic features:

  • Climate
  • Soil
  • Rocks
  • Sunlight
• How do producers and consumers differ in the pond ecosystem?

  Producers:

  • Make their own food through photosynthesis
  • Examples: Plants like water lilies and algae

  
  

  Consumers:

  • Cannot make their own food and rely on other organisms
  • Examples: Herons and fish
• What is the food web in a pond ecosystem?

  • Producers (plants) convert sunlight into food
  • Consumers (herons, fish) eat plants and other animals
  • Decomposers (pond snails, worms) break down dead organic matter