Invertebrate animals (such as dragonflies and water beetles) and insectivorous vertebrates such as amphibians (frogs and toads), turtles and waterbirds can colonize new ponds quickly.
[2] Amphibious species such as frogs, toads, and newts are common in garden ponds, especially in overgrown areas with algae and reeds.
In tropical climates, garden ponds may become breeding sites for mosquitoes and increase the spread of diseases carried by these insects.
People often install pumps in garden ponds to counter these natural tendencies, particularly to maintain higher levels of dissolved oxygen.
[4] Ponds outside of gardens are fed by four main water sources: rain, inflows (springs and streams), surface runoff, and groundwater.
In soils that lack natural clay, additional water loss to drainage and permeation is prevented by a liner.
Oftentimes, seasonal ponds are utilized as a breeding ground, allowing amphibian (such as frogs and toads) and invertebrate (such as fairy shrimp) larvae space to develop without aquatic predators like fish.