The animal and plant life in Kilen

Kilen is a very nutritious pond. This becomes obvious during the field trip, when we discover great amounts of plants around it. The pond is surrounded by marshes, covered with reeds.

We find a lot of small animals in the pond, for instance tadpoles and different kinds of catepillars. The poor view in the water suggests a high amount of plancton. The bottom of the pond is covered with water plants. This is typical for a very nutritious pond.

Nutritious ponds are called eutrofe ponds. A lot of nutrition, poor view, a lot of plant and animal life and small amounts of oxygen at the bottom characterise these ponds.

It’s not a very long time since people could swim in the pond. This suggests the pond has gotten nutritious from for instance sewers.

What consequences will it have for the animal life if the pond dries out?

If the pond dries out and becomes a marsh, it will mean a total change in the ecosystem in Kilen. The fish will disappear (of course), probably swim down to the river. The consequences will probably be most fatal for the frogs and salamanders. These animals depend on the special ecosystem in ponds like Kilen, and can’t survive in rivers and bigger lakes. The number of ponds like Kilen is on the decrease, and that’s why species like big salamander is in danger of extermination. It’s the same way with a lot of bugs in the pond