definition...water are not well established. It may be said, however, that rivers and streams are relatively fast moving; marshes and swamps contain relatively large quantities of grasses, trees, or shrubs; and ponds are relatively small in comparison with lakes. Geologically defined, lakes are temporary bodies of water.
hydrologic cycleOverland flow is generated at a point on a hillslope only after surface ponding takes place. Ponding cannot occur until the surface soil layers become saturated. It is now widely recognized that surface saturation can occur because of two quite distinct mechanisms—namely, Horton overland flow and Dunne overland flow.
lacustrine ecosystemsPonds are relatively shallow, with considerable light penetration. They support a variety of rooted aquatic plants. Water is mixed well top to bottom, but there are great seasonal changes in wind, temperature, precipitation, and evaporation. It is a precarious habitat subject to much imbalance. The animal inhabitants must possess considerable physiological adaptability to survive....of the land, free water habitats can be classified as either lotic (running-water) or lentic (standing-water). Lotic habitats include rivers, streams, and brooks, and lentic habitats include lakes, ponds, and marshes. Both habitats are linked into drainage systems of three major sorts: exorheic, endorheic, and arheic. Exorheic regions are open systems in which surface waters ultimately drain to...
lake extinction...throughout the littoral zone. As infilling proceeds, the plant-choked littoral zone spreads lakeward. Eventually the littoral zone becomes a marsh, and the central part of the lake diminishes to a pond. When the lake finally ceases to exist, terrestrial vegetation may flourish, even to the extent of forestation.
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