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I will now focus on the
biological perspective of Long Pond. Within the lake ecosystem, aquatic
plants play important ecological roles. Through the process of
photosynthesis they produce oxygen, thus allowing
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for the persistence of
aquatic life. They are a valuable food source and provide shelter for many
aquatic organisms. They sequester phosphorus by incorporating this limiting
nutrient into their biomass and
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thus reduce the risk of
algal blooms resulting from excessive phosphorus availability in the water
column. Because aquatic plants rely on light from the sun, they are
typically found in shallow areas where
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there is sufficient light.
Past observation has suggested to CEAT that sedimentation from the
steeply-sloped stream emanating from Whittier Pond may have reduced the
depth of the Northwestern arm of Long
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Pond and may be related to
the abundant growth of macrophytes in the area.
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