Imagine you are looking at a pond. What do you see? Many would say water, plants, fish, maybe a few frogs. But there is much more to a pond ecosystem than just meets the eye. In the spring, a pond is an area teeming with life, while during the winter, everything seems to go still. So what exactly is happening just below the surface? Winter During the winter, it may seem like everything in a pond has been put on hold. This is partially true, as activity is slowed greatly during this season. Turtles and frogs have retreated into the cozy warmth of the mud. Insects are no longer skimming across the surface. The metabolism of organisms in the pond as well as the amount of photosynthesis that is taking place is greatly decreased during the winter. This is an important adaptation as both food and sunlight are in short supply. In areas where ice is able to form on a pond, several changes occur. Since ice is less dense than liquid water,...