How can we make new ponds biodiverse? A case study monitored over 7 years

Abstract

A new pond complex, designed to enhance aquatic biodiversity, was monitored over a 7-year period. The Pinkhill Meadow site, located in grassland adjacent to the R. Thames, proved unusually rich in terms of its macrophyte, aquatic macroinvertebrate and wetland bird assemblages. In total, the 3.2 ha mosaic of ca. 40 permanent, semi-permanent and seasonal ponds and pools was colonized by approximately 20% of all UK wetland plant and macroinvertebrate species over the 7-year survey period. This included eight invertebrate species that are Nationally Scarce in the UK. The site supported three breeding species of wading bird and was used by an additional 54 species of waders, waterfowl and other wetland birds. The results from four monitoring ponds investigated in more detail showed that these ponds significantly supported more plant and macroinvertebrate species than both minimally impaired UK reference ponds, and other new ponds for which compatible data were available.Comparisons of the physico-chemical, hydrological and land-use characteristics of the Pinkhill pools with those of other new ponds showed that the site was unusual in having a high proportion of wetlands in the near surrounds. It also had significantly lower water conductivity than other ponds and a higher proportion of (non-woodland) semi-natural land in its surroundings. Given that ponds are known to contribute significantly to UK biodiversity at a landscape level, and that several thousand new ponds are created each year in the UK alone, the findings suggest that well designed and located pond complexes could be used to significantly enhance freshwater biodiversity within catchments.

Effects of flow reduction and spillways on the composition and structure of benthic macroinvertebrate communities in a Brazilian river reach

“…At the end of three years, the author observed that 80% of the original taxa disappeared and new ones were established in the area. Published data suggests that a period ranging from 20 to 36 months is needed for new communities of macroinvertebrates to stabilise in a newly formed lentic system (Solomini et al, 2003;Williams et al, 2008). During research downstream of Flaming George Dam (USA), Vinson (2001) observed small changes in the invertebrate fauna during the first years after damming: large changes were detected five years after damming.…”

Abundance, biomass and community structure of pond phytoplankton related to the catchment characteristics

“…These small water bodies differ greatly in origin and in morphological conditions such as surface area, depth and volume, and natural and anthrophogenically altered ponds experience different precipitation, insolation, water temperature and catchment nutrient inflow. This great variability therefore contributes to forming different habitats and increasing organism species diversity (Wiliams et al, 2008).…”

Diversity of Odonata (Insecta) larvae in streams and farm ponds of a montane region in southern Brazil

“…Additionally, they are also efficient indicators of water quality (Ferreira-Peruquetti & De Marco Junior 2002), due to the preference of both larval and adult stages for certain environmental conditions for their establishment (Corbet 1999, Clausnitzer et al 2009). Odonate larvae may also occur in artificial water bodies (e.g., reservoirs), but their diversity in such environments is little studied (Williams et al 2008) Odonates, as other aquatic animal groups, have been threatened by human activities. About 10% of odonate species worldwide are considered "threatened", 35% are classified as "data deficient", and 6% are "endangered" (Clausnitzer et al 2009).…”