The open-water habitat of lentic environments (i.e., lakes and ponds) includes the limnetic and profundal zones of the water column. The Limnetic zone begins where growth of rooted plants ends, and extends vertically to the depth of maximum sunlight penetration. The profundal zone is the deeper (and often colder) water below the level of light penetration. Most lakes in Nova Scotia are deep enough to have open-water habitats. Most ponds are shallow and support submerged vegetation throughout.

Lakes in Nova Scotia tend to be of glacial origin, but can also be formed due to damming by landslides, flood debris, or construction projects. Ponds are greatly affected by local climatic and geological conditions and are quite different in various regions of the province. It is important to understand the origin of a pond (e.g., sinkhole, river oxbow, beaver dam). Ponds can also form when a lake is infilled with organic debris or mineral sediment.

This Document Includes:

Formation
Physical Aspects
Ecosystem
Successional Sequence
Plants
Animals
Special Features

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Additional Keywords:
phytoplankton, zooplankton, desmids, diatoms, algae, water fleas, copepods, rotifers, water beetles, mosquitoes, trout, Golden Shiner, perch, duck, Osprey, Bald Eagles, cormorants, loons

Associated Topics:

T8.1 Freshwater Hydrology
T8.2 Freshwater Environments
T10.2 Successional Trends in Vegetation
T10.5 Seed-bearing Plants
T11.5 Freshwater Wetland Birds and Waterfowl
T11.13 Freshwater Fishes
T11.16 Land and Freshwater Invertebrates

Associated Habitats:

H3.1 Open-water Lotic (Rivers and Streams)
H3.4 Bottom Lentic (Lakes and Ponds)
H3.6 Water's Edge Lentic (Lakes and Ponds)
H4.1 Bog
H4.2 Fen
H4.3 Swamp