Oligotrophic Mesotrophic and Eutrophic

Ecological succession is the observed process of change in the species structure of an ecological community over time. The terms oligotrophic, mesotrophic, and eutrophic can be used to determine the age of lake. An oligotrophic lake have few plants, animals, and nutrients, or PAN. Oligotrophic lakes are newer because of the lack if PAN.

Mesotrophic lakes have a medium amount of PAN, informing scientists that the lake is medium in age. 

Eutrophic lakes have the highest amount of PAN. As a result of this, scientists can determine that eutrophic lakes are the oldest of all the lakes.

These terms are important in freshwater ecology because as the lakes progress in age, the ecology changes. In my aquarium, it would be considered mesotrophic while in Lewisville lake would be considered eutrophic.