Identifying optimum locations for new ponds

Abstract

ABSTRACT1. Pond ecological quality is influenced by surrounding land uses. Continued intensification of land use has led to a progressive decline in the ecological quality of the pond stock within Britain.2. To reverse this trend new ponds need to be carefully designed and sited using a targeted approach. Consequently, this study uses a Geographical Information System (GIS) to identify optimum locations for new ponds within the Chiltern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.3. Multiple regression analysis was used to identify the relationship between macrophyte pond quality indicators and environmental data from 300 ponds to produce models that could predict pond quality.4. These models were tested at 10 locations in the study area by comparing predicted pond qualities with the actual pond qualities, established by identifying all plants in each pond. Aquatic plants successfully predicted pond quality, while emergent plants and total wetland plant species did not.5. The regression model for aquatic plants was used in the GIS to identify locations within the study area where new ponds could be located to obtain maximum ecological quality. Six scenarios were tested and the optimum situation identified.6. The study demonstrated the potential and importance of using GIS in a strategic approach for pond conservation.

Spatial patterns in pond invertebrate communities: separating environmental and distance effects

“…The existence of large-scale positive autocorrelation in pond communities has important implications for conservation of pond community diversity. Recent work, building on metapopulation ideas (Hanski, 1999), has emphasized the development of pond networks to maximize the likelihood of dispersal between sites (Biggs et al, 1994;Boothby, 1997;Briers, 2002;Davies et al, 2004) but the spatial scale at which networks should be developed has not been made explicit. One of the consequences of the large-scale interactions between sites implied by the significant spatial autocorrelation of communities is that it may be necessary to cultivate a larger-scale view of pond networks than has previously been suggested, and to focus on regional-scale conservation strategies rather than at a purely local scale.…”

Life‐cycle phenology of some aquatic insects: implications for pond conservation

“…Finally, previously undescribed life-cycle and growth patterns were detailed for the following species: Naucoris maculatus, Haliplus lineatocollis, Haliplus mucronatus, Hygrotus inaequalis, Noterus clavicornis, Odontomyia ornata, Stratiomys potamida, Dicrotendipes tritomus -thus contributing further to an understanding of the population dynamics of wetland insects. As wetland habitats, ponds have only recently started receiving some attention, and most of the current research still focuses on assessing the biodiversity they support (Briers and Biggs, 2003;Ange´libert et al, 2004) or are likely to host (Davies et al, 2004;Gaston et al, 2005). Among wetland inhabitants, aquatic insects have the potential to be relevant ecological indicators.…”

Do biogeographic parameters matter? Plant species richness and distribution of macrophytes in relation to area and isolation of ponds in NW Polish agricultural landscape

“…Such activities should take into account both local habitat conditions and the landscape context, i.e. patterns of wetland distribution and the nature of the surrounding matrix, in connection with dispersal potential of organisms (Davies et al, 2004;Murphy & Lovett-Doust, 2004;Herault & Thoen, 2009). …”