Hey, there! Welcome to the Pond Informer community.
We’re a growing community of pond consultants, aquaculture professionals, ecological scientists, and wildlife writers with a passion for all things ponds, wetlands, and sustainable conservation. Our primary goal is to share our knowledge of these incredibly unique and important ecosystems with the world.
We have grown from a website offering small-scale pond advice to a much larger educational resource, providing information on a huge range of ecological topics related to freshwater. Our readers now span nearly every continent!
Whether you have a garden pond, a koi pond, a wildlife pond, a natural pond or wetland on your property, would like to construct a pond or wetland, want to learn more about aquatic and semi-aquatic plant species or wildlife (like fish) that are dependent on these habitats, or just about anything related to these topics, we’ve got you covered!
Particularly when it comes to the pond and lake industry, there is loads of outdated, non-reputable, or just plain inaccurate information on the internet. Just about anyone can start a blog and fill it with whatever information they please. However, it is our belief that positive change can only begin with education and understanding.
As part of our mission to help spread awareness of the importance of freshwater ecosystems, our team utilizes our own field and research experience, as well as seeking out reputable sources of information such as peer-reviewed research articles and data, university and government databases, and nationally recognized field guides and textbooks. Links will be included throughout our content for further reading and education to only the highest quality sources.
In articles focused on particular species of plants, fish, or other animals, we make sure to include verifiable, up-to-date information on their native ranges and highly encourage obtaining only plant and animals species for your garden pond or lake that are native to your particular area.
So, why ponds? This all began as a website born from a love for backyard ponds and koi, but has grown into so much more. Worldwide, aquatic ecosystems are under immense pressure – approximately 87% of all wetlands, such as bogs and fens, have been lost (with an exacerbated loss of 98% in the United States) to things like cropland, pollution, and expanding towns and cities. Similarly, more than 50% of natural pond and lake habitats have been lost around the world. Of those, 50% have been lost in the last 40 years alone!
Aquatic ecosystems include some of the most unique, biodiverse, and sensitive systems in the world; with their loss, a ripple effect is felt in virtually every single other ecosystem. Humanity is no exception to this – we rely on aquatic ecosystems for food, water, temperature regulation, and even carbon sequestration and oxygen production via plants and diatoms!
This means that your seemingly simple garden or hobby pond, no matter how large or small, whether they have pet koi and goldfish or bass and crappie, can play an absolutely critical role in the survival of countless species and provide benefits that extend far beyond your backyard. An exhausted blue-winged teal, for example, may use your pond as an overnight stopping point to rest during its yearly migration.
Mayflies and other beneficial insects may grow up in your pond, providing food for your fish, before maturing and providing food for a variety of birds, reptiles, and mammals alike. The native plants you’ve incorporated around the edge of your pond could provide shelter for endangered turtles trying to move safely to new habitat. And the ability for you to relax by your pond can similarly benefit the outside world, allowing you to be more productive at work, better deal with stress, and have a healthy and fulfilling hobby.
Our hope is that Pond Informer can serve as an educational resource for pond hobbyists, anglers, students, and the simply curious alike. Aquatic ecosystems, such as ponds, hold incredible ecological as well as societal value and importance, uniqueness, and beauty…whether they’re in the wilderness or your backyard.
If you enjoy our content, you can help spread awareness and knowledge by sharing our articles via social media or leaving a comment with your own personal experiences!