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Ponds and Reservoirs
Description
The ponds and reservoirs in the forest are small and shallow. The water is clear and the bottoms are rocky or mucky. They usually freeze over in the winter but are deep enough not to freeze completely. In the late summer and fall, the water level drops, leaving muddy flats along the edges.
Pond edges support a complex plant association not described on this page.
Selected Plants
Nymphaea odorata
Herbs
- Isoetes echinospora (Quillwort)
- Nymphaea odorata (White water lily)
- Nuphar lutea (Yellow water lily)
- Brasenia schreberi (Water-shield)
- Eriocaulon septangulare (Pipewort)
- Elodea nuttallii (Waterweed)
- Potamogeton spiralis (Pondweed)
Occurrence
Sutherland Pond is the only natural pond in the forest. The other five ponds are reservoirs formed by flooding swamps and hollows. Aleck Meadow Reservoir was once a pasture. Tamarack Pond was a black spruce (Picea mariana) swamp; the stumps are still visible when the water is low.
Ecology
Tamarack Pond
Upland ponds are usually poor in nutrients mostly from rainfall and runoff. Energy is abundant, from sunlight and decaying organic matter, but the acidic rainfall and runoff from the nutrient-poor soils provide few minerals, so density and diversity of plants is low. A few species of fish are found in the ponds, as well as a diversity of reptiles, amphibians, and insects.
Swimming is not allowed in any of the reservoirs. Fishing is open to members of the Black Rock Hunting and Fishing Club.
Also Called
- Reschke (1990): Oligotrophic ponds; reservoir or artificial impoundment.
Selected References
For general references see the reference page.
- Albers, M., et al. 2001. Water on the Web: Understanding Lake Ecology.
- Cahill, M.C. 2001. Lesson Plans Library. Freshwater Habitats (Grades 6-8), Discoveryschool.com.
- Clement, J. et al. 1997. World of Fresh Water. A resource for studying Freshwater Research, Washington, DC: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
- Massachusetts Audubon Society. 1995. Pond watchers guide to ponds and vernal pools of eastern North America. Lincoln, MA: Massachusetts Audubon Society.
- Reid, G.K. 1987. Pond Life. New York: Golden Books.
- Russell, F. 1961. Watchers at the Pond. New York: Time-Life Books.
Photos: Kerry Barringer