Characterisation of constructed ponds and factors influencing their macroinvertebrate communities on the lower Waikato River floodplain, New Zealand

Surviving Invasion: Regaining Native Fish Resilience Following Fish Invasions in a Modified Floodplain Landscape

“…Flood events can also facilitate dispersal of IAF into isolated habitats, as highlighted by a study of constructed ponds in the LWRF, where annual inundation was associated with dominance by common carp and brown bullhead (Figure 4; see also Garrett‐Walker, 2014; Garrett‐Walker et al., 2020). Despite the importance of inundated lateral areas (e.g., wetlands, floodplains and ponds) for supplying food resources and habitat for native fish recruitment, they provide the same services for highly fecund IAF (e.g., Nieoczym & Kloskowski, 2015) by providing nurseries for larvae, especially where flood waters have become trapped behind infrastructure.…”

“…Creation of ephemeral (as opposed to permanent) conditions, although less productive for macroinvertebrates, was associated with reduced invasive Gambusia abundances in constructed floodplain ponds (Garrett‐Walker & Collier, 2020; Garrett‐Walker et al., 2020), potentially reducing competition with threatened black mudfish that are adapted to take advantage of seasonal wetting and drying cycles (Barrier & Hicks, 1994; Ling & Willis, 2005). In addition, it was recommended that consideration be given to the ecosystem regulation functions of riparian vegetation through the height, density and composition required to provide sufficient littoral shade, organic matter inputs, and habitat complexity (e.g., root mats, submerged wood) that provides habitat diversity favored by native fish (Garrett‐Walker et al., 2020).…”