Image: Pond sucession

Description: Occurring over a period of time, pond succession is the process of sediment slowly building up in ponds. The sediment continues to fill in the pond until very little water is left. The sediment is composed of plants that have decomposed, building up layers of sediment. This often leaves an ecosystem with a marshy, bog type environment. As the sediment fills in the pond, the plant life increases in diversity from more emergent base plants to more coniferous based life. As it continues to grow the bog type environment will slowly transform into a forest or grassland. Pond Succession occurs through the following steps. A: Pond with emergent plant life B: First layer of sediment fills the bottom of the pond C: Emergent plant life moves from side of pond nearer to the middle, second layer of sediment is added to pond. D: Third layer of sediment is added, various plant life; both emergent and terrestrial plants are growing E: The fourth and final layer of sediment has filled the pond. There are very little emergent plants left, and the majority are terrestrial plants. Trees are starting to appear.

F: Now trees start to grow in the swamp water,then it will eventually dry out, becoming either a grassland or forest.
Author: Rhaun
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License: CC-BY-SA-3.0
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