The ecology and biodiversity of urban ponds

Abstract

Recent research has demonstrated that ponds contribute a great deal to biodiversity at a regional level as networks of habitat patches that also act as -stepping stones‖ to facilitate the movement of species through the landscape. Similarly, a great deal of biodiversity persists in urban environments where synanthropic communities are supplemented by species that thrive in disturbed environments. Aquatic urban biodiversity appears to persist despite anthropogenic stressors: an array of anthropogenic pollutants (road salt, heavy metals), invasive species, and active mismanagementparticularly the removal of riparian vegetation. Optimising urban ponds for different ecosystem services results in conflicting priorities over hydrological, geochemical, ecological, aesthetic and cultural functions. The socio-ecosystem approach to environmental management opens a path to greater incorporation of biodiversity into town planning and sustainability, while acco cultural attitudes to urban ecosystems. I identify a range of research needs: (i) the roles of design and location of urban ponds in influencing biodiversity, (ii) the function of urban wetlands for stormwater and pollution management, and (iii) public perceptions of urban ecosystems and how those perceptions are influenced by interactions with natural systems. Urban wetlands offer an important opportunity to educate the general public on natural systems and science in general using a resource that is located on their doorstep. In the face of increasing pressures on natural systems and increasing extent and intensity of urbanisation, a more comprehensive appreciation of the challenges and opportunities provided by urban ponds could play a substantial role in driving sustainable urban development.

Ecological Drivers of Cladoceran Diversity in the Central European City (Łódź, Poland): Effects of Urbanisation and Size of the Waterbody

“…Many ponds today are created in urban landscapes for recreational purposes or as part of a 'wildlife garden' (Davies et al, 2009b;Hassall, 2014). Anthropogenic ponds essentially provide a natural environment and habitat (Biggs et al, 1994a) and are utilised by a wide range of flora and fauna (Davies et al, 2009b).…”

“…Ponds are common and abundant features in the urban landscape (there are estimated to be between 2.5 -3.5 million garden ponds in the United Kingdom (Davies et al, 2009b)), many have been anthropogenically built for a variety of purposes including; flood reduction, water treatment, public amenity and to promote urban biodiversity Briers, 2014;Hassall, 2014).…”

“…Previous research has highlighted urban ponds' considerable contribution to biodiversity (Gledhill et al, 2008;Hassall, 2014;Hassall and Anderson, 2015) whilst other studies have suggested that urban ponds are often ecologically poor and currently of little value to aquatic conservation (Noble and Hassall, 2014). …”

“…Research on the biodiversity of ephemeral ponds 'lags at least 50 years behind that of better known water body types' (Williams et al, 2001: 7) and urban ponds have also been very poorly studied due to their small size and the often misplaced assumption that they are of poor biodiversity value. These research gaps have recently been recognised and highlighted within the scientific literature (Gledhill et al, 2008;Chester and Robson, 2013;Hassall, 2014). There have been few studies into pond landscapes (pondscapes) and how their connectivity or isolation may influence biodiversity.…”

“…Natural fish populations are typically limited in both abundance and diversity in ponds and their influence on the functioning and structure of ponds is reduced compared to larger lakes (De Meester et al, 2005). However, many anthropogenically created ponds and shallow lakes are stocked with fish for angling or ornamental purposes (Wood et al, 2001;Hassall, 2014) and fish have been demonstrated to influence invertebrate composition (Wood et al, 2001;Schilling et al, 2009;Beresford and Jones, 2010;Chaichana et al, 2011) and cause trophic cascades (Nyström et al, 2001;Knight et al, 2005) in both lakes and ponds. The smaller catchment area of ponds compared to larger lakes can enable quite different environmental conditions to develop (reflecting local microsite conditions (Scheffer et al, 2006)) even in ponds that are in close geographical proximity to each other Davies et al, 2008b).…”