An Ecological Study of a Minnesota Pond

period of nearly two years. Seasonal fluctuations in populations, food web dynamics, and community development are given special emphasis. Qualitative and quantitative aspects are considered. In general quantitative data are scattered and fragmentary with respect to natural ponds. The physical conditions of a pond usually fluctuate so rapidly and to such great extremes that random observations and short-period studies are quite meaningless in the evaluation of pond dynamics. Likewise, diverse chemical conditions of small bodies of water lessen the significance of a single chemical analysis. While many workers have studied the biota of ponds, only a few have made ecological studies. Allee (1911) and Peterson (1926) studied seasonal succession of the biota of ponds. Shelford (1911) investigated pond biota in relation to the age of the ponds. Plankton communities were studied by Eddy (1934). Mozley (1932) made a biological study of a temporary pond in Canada. Recently, Kenk (1949) worked on temporary and permanent ponds in southern Michigan land included a report on the general physico-chemical and biological conditions of temporary ponds. For many years Europeans reared fishes in ponds for food and recently commercial minnow rearing has become an important industry in some sections of America. Although management of artificial ponds has resulted in extensive research, the data in many respects are not directly applicable to natural ponds.