Lakes Lakes are large bodies of water that are surrounded by land. Lakes are usually freshwater ecosystems.
Lakes can be large, but they are often still small enough to see the other side. Algae, aquatic plants, freshwater fish, amphibians, ducks, slider turtles, and beavers are some of the organisms that live in lakes. |
Ponds Ponds are small bodies of freshwater that are surrounded by land. Ponds are smaller and shallower than lakes, which means that the temperature of the water usually stays the same from top to bottom.
Ponds are smaller than lakes. They are not usually large enough to use a motorboat in. Like lakes, the organisms that can be found in ponds include aquatic plants, algae, fish, amphibians, ducks, and slider turtles. |
Estuary An estuary is an area in which fresh water and salty ocean water mixes together. These areas may include bays, mouths of rivers, and lagoons. Estuaries have water that is saltier than the water found in lakes and ponds, but not as salty as the water that is found in the ocean.
In estuaries, ocean water provides nutrients needed for plants to grow well. These plants provide shelter and food for birds and other kinds of animals. Often, sea animals go to estuaries to breed and produce their young. The young sea animals live in estuaries during the first parts of their lives, until they are strong enough to survive in the open ocean. Estuaries provide a place where young animals can grow up. The plants in estuaries are marsh grasses and other plants that are adapted to water levels that change with the tides. Muskrats, sea birds (such as herons and egrets), shellfish (such as shrimp and crabs) and saltwater crocodiles are animals often found in estuaries. Estuaries are valuable resources for humans. Many of the fish species that are caught by commercial fishermen spend at least part of their lives in estuaries. Estuary ecosystems are very fragile, and they can be easily harmed by pollution and erosion. |