Ponds grow calmer as their waters cool
The waters of small, shallow ponds and wetlands cool quickly. The first cold nights cause their warmth to dissipate into the air as mist, and the shortening days are unable to offset this loss. As the waters grow colder, the frenetic activity of the summer slows down: coastal plants wilt, but there are still some invertebrates scurrying about in the water and flying above the surface. Being ectothermic (i.e. “cold-blooded”), frogs soon start to grow sluggish as well. Soon they too will have to retreat to the bottom mud to hibernate until next spring.
