Lake ecosystems are a prime examples of lentic ecosystems.Lenticrefers to standing or relatively still water, from theLatinlentus, which means sluggish. Lentic waters range frompondsto lakes towetlands, and much of this article applies to lentic ecosystems in general. Lentic ecosystems can be compared withlotic ecosystems, which involve flowing terrestrial waters such as rivers and streams. Together, these two fields form the more general study area of freshwater oraquatic ecology.
Lentic systems are diverse, ranging from a small, temporary rainwater pool a few inches deep toLake Baikal, which has a maximum depth of 1740 m.[2]The general distinction between pools/ponds and lakes is vague, but Brown[1]states that ponds and pools have their entire bottom surfaces exposed to light, while lakes do not. In addition, some lakes become seasonally stratified (discussed in more detail below.) Ponds and pools have two regions: thepelagicopen water zone, and thebenthic zone, which comprises the bottom and shore regions. Since lakes have deep bottom regions not exposed to light, these systems have an additional zone, theprofundal.[3]These three areas can have very different abiotic conditions and, hence, host species that are specifically adapted to live there.[1]
