Ponds are small water holes that are so shallow that light can usually penetrate to the bottom. They differ from the larger lakes in that they do not develop spring layers, and from the puddles in that they contain water all year round.
Ponds are often nutrient-rich. The plants consist of reed forest plants, floating leaf plants, bottom plants and phytoplankton. Wildlife is similar to the wildlife of lakes, though often represented by species that are more tolerant of poor oxygen conditions. The animals can be roughly divided into benthic animals, animals that live on the plants and zooplankton, as well as larger animals, including fish and amphibians.
