Ponds (lentic water bodies <2ha) constitute a considerable biodiversity resource. Understanding the environmental factors that underlie this diversity is important in protecting and managing the habitat. We surveyed 425 ponds for biological and physical characteristics with 78 of those also surveyed for chemical characteristics. A total of 277 invertebrate species and 265 plant species were found. Species richness varied between 2 and 99 (mean 27.2 ± 0.6 SE) for invertebrates and 1 and 58 (mean 20.8 ± 0.4 SE) for plants. Generalised linear models were used to investigate variables that correlate with the species richness of plants and invertebrates, with additional models to investigate insect, Coleoptera, Odonata, Hemiptera, Trichoptera and Mollusca species richness. Models performed well for invertebrates in general (R 2 =39.8%) but varied between lower-order invertebrate taxa (8.2-34.9%). Ponds with lower levels of shading and no history of drying contained higher numbers of species of plants and all invertebrate groups. Aquatic plant coverage positively correlated with species richness in all invertebrate groups apart from Trichoptera and the presence of fish was associated with high invertebrate species richness in all groups apart from Coleoptera. The addition of chemistry variables only increased the explanatory power of the model explaining plant species richness, for which phosphate was a highly significant factor. We demonstrate that the composition of biological communities varies along with their species richness and that less diverse ponds are more variable compared to more diverse ponds. Promoting a high landscape-level pond biodiversity will involve the management of a high diversity of pond types within that landscape.

(LJMU) in the UK. He is the author of a number of published papers on ethnic minority business issues and is a recipient of an Emerald Literati Prize. He has a wealth of experience in evaluation research on issues as varied as befriending schemes for older people to counteract isolation and loneliness, through to cannabis use and cultivation, and black and minority ethnic communities satisfaction with policing. He has also lead a team in a major EU funded project around 'Reducing Reoffending' with local and international partners. Giles is a member of the Centre for the Study of Crime, Criminalisation and Social Exclusion (CCSE) at LJMU. Currently he is leading a team of researchers on a national evaluation of The Royal British Legion (TRBL) Breaks Services. In addition to being the nation's custodian of remembrance, TRBL supports the UK Armed Forces community through welfare services, companionship and representation. The project will provide an assessment of TRBL's holiday services, and how they contributes to overall well-being.