Pond Organisms

When our group observed a sample of pond water, we spotted different types of little bugs and larvae. One type of larva is mayfly larvae. Mayfly larvae are fully aquatic and do not breathe with lungs; they have special gill-like structures connected to the trachea.

We also saw some snails. Snails are scavengers and eat organic matter and leftover food.

We noticed some tiny little shrimp-like organisms called scuds. Though they can swim, they spend most of their time clinging to substrates and wedging themselves into tight spaces. I put quite a few scuds into Benson's tank so he could eat them, but apparently, getting eaten was not on most of their agendas; they swam as quickly as they could to the plants or to the gravel at the bottom of the tank. However, Benson did manage to spot and catch one of them before it swam away. Though the scud presumably did not enjoy this, Benson was visibly pleased and did his cute little "happy dance".