What Makes Your Garden Pond Great?

Let us help you find out what is in your pond and help us find out what makes a great pond by carrying out this

survey.

Jordan Gledhill and Hannah Andrews Citizen Science

WHATS SO GOOD ABOUT PONDS?

A pond is defined as: Water bodies between 1 m2 and 2 ha in an area which may be permanent or seasonal, including both manmade and natural water bodies. In 1986 British fresh water biologists highlighted the fact that with a few notable exceptions the wider ecology of ponds had been almost entirely neglected and, as a habitat, ponds were largely ignored by freshwater biologists. The result was that the protection of small water bodies was largely a matter of chance. However, ponds have recently been shown to be surprisingly significant as freshwater habitats, supporting a relatively high proportion of the total freshwater biodiversity present in a range of landscape types [1, 2]. They are species-rich, supporting populations of at least two-thirds of Britain’s freshwater plant and animal species [3].

It is clear that ponds are important for biodiversity conservation [4] but unfortunately ponds have been lost on a large scale during the twentieth century, reaching 40-90% decline for various Northwestern European countries [5]. In North America, a recent analysis has shown that extinction rates among North American freshwater fauna are as high as for the fauna of tropical forests [6].

The destruction of pond habitats has three components: straightforward loss of habitat, increased fragmentation of the remaining habitat and reduced habitat quality. Habitat loss and fragmentation usually occur together and have undoubtedly led to greater pressure on a number of pond species due to a reduction in dispersal and colonization opportunities.

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WHAT WILL THIS SURVEY DO?

Ornamental and garden ponds have been excluded from most historic studies due to difficulties in obtaining access, and their inclusion in future studies is essential. Garden ponds provide a haven for amphibians, plants and invertebrate fauna in the urban environment.

A considerable number of new ponds are now being created in Britain each year, with around 2000 excavated annually in the lowlands alone.[2] Yet, despite the popularity of pond creation, little is known of the ecological value or characteristics of new pond sites. There has been exceptionally little research into the factors that drive new pond quality. In particular we know little of the key locational and physiochemical characteristics likely to promote development of high biodiversity in new ponds.

The aim of this survey is to identify certain aspects of pond management that may promote higher species than other management strategies. If these aspects can be identified then future pond construction can be guided by these results in order to get the most biological value out of the new pond.

SO HOW CAN YOU HELP?

By filling in this survey, you will be giving us valuable information about your garden pond. Collecting species samples will enable us and you to find out the quality of your pond by what lives there. We will then be able to see if there are any correlations between certain pond characteristics/management and the conservation value that they may or may not provide.

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HEALTH AND SAFETY

EQUIPMENT

You will need:

This survey pack and our species ID pack A net – Watch our video online on how to make your own

net! 3 shallow trays A camera to take photos of your pond and any species that

you are not able to identify to upload to our website later. Some spoons to pick insects out of the tray and put into

smaller pots (empty yoghurt pots are perfect !) for closer identification

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This survey is performed close to water and it is important to be safe.

Small children must be supervised at all times when near water.

Perform survey in pairs or groups, not alone.

Cover any open cuts before starting and wash your hands thoroughly after the

survey. Keep a phone nearby (In case of emergencies) BUT DON’T DROP IT!

When pond dipping please sit on both knees or lay your on stomach.

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METHODS

1. Fill the shallow trays with about 3-4 cm of the pond water. The water in the tray should be as clear as possible so remove any weeds or plants.

2. Standing in a sturdy position at the edge of the pond we want you to perform three different sweeps, each sweep lasting 30 seconds. Firstly, sweep the net slowly across the surface of the pond. Secondly, through the middle and finally sweep low to the bottom of the pond. (Why? Because different species live at different depths) .Make Sure to Sample in This Order so the Sediment is Not Disturbed First.

3. Each time you finish a sweep, turn the net inside out into one of the shallow tray and let it settle.

4. The spoon can be used to help look around the tray for invertebrates. Any that are found can be identified using our species ID section.

5. Invertebrates found should be recorded in the tables provided on the data sheet.

6. Make sure to put any plants or animals back into the pond.

Visit our website to see a video of one of our lovely colleagues going through not just the method, but the whole survey.

www.yourgardenpondidme.org.uk

SURVEY

1. Date of survey _____________________________________

2. Time of survey _____________________________________

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3. Pond location (This can either be: Postcode/ GPS /or use of our online interactive map)

4. Age of person(s) taking this survey:

5-15 16-25 26-35 36-45 46-55 56+

5. How would you describe your invertebrate identification skills?

Beginner Intermediate Expert

6. Which type of water system does your pond have?

Fountain Pump Still standing

7. How are you participating in the survey?

School Volunteer group Family or friends

8. What is today’s weather like?

Sunny Cloudy Rainy

9. Source of water for your pond:

Tap/hose Rainfall Stream

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10. What is the size of your pond across the largest point in meters?

0-1 1.1- 2 2.1 – 3 3+

11. What is the approximate percentage of the pond circumference that is occupied by plants and/or trees?

0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

12. What does the margin of your pond mainly look like?

Concrete/ paving stone Small plants Mown grass Long grass

Tall plants Trees Bare ground Rockery

13. Is there an artificial cover (netted or fully covered) on the pond surface?

Yes No

14. What approximate percentage of overhang from surrounding trees covers the pond surface?

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0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

15. Does the pond being surveyed have any of the following present?

Duck weed String weed Algae

16. Do you use any of the following on the surrounding area of your pond?

Fertilizers Manure Pesticides Herbicides None

17. Average length of time taken to search trays (minutes):

0-5 6-10 11-15 16 +

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DATA COLLECTING

Use the species identification guide provided to help you ID the species found within your pond.

Please tally in the correct column how many of each species are found within each pond dipping phase.

Species (common name)

Pond health score

Topof

Pond

Middle of

Pond

Bottom of

Pond

Total of each

speciesAlderfly larvae 10Cased/caseless caddisfly larvae 10

Damselfly larvae 10Dragonfly larvae 10Flatworms 1Great diving beetle 5Greater water boatman 5Leaches 1Lesser water boatman 5Mayfly larvae 5Midge larvae 1Pea mussel 1Pond skaters 5Pond snail 1Ramshorn snail 1Rat-tailed maggots 1Water scorpion 5Water shrimps 5Water slaters 1Water stick insect 5

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Total

Additional Species Found TickGreat Crested NewtSmooth NewtPalmate NewtCommon FrogCommon ToadMarsh Frog

So, how many species have you found? (How many rows

have at least one tick in them?) ……………..

Each of these different species you have found have been

allocated a pond health score. For the species you have

found add up their pond health scores

10=

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR YOUR POND?

By sampling your pond and telling us what was in it, we are able to evaluate the health of your pond. The pond health score was created by the biological monitoring working party; it is a procedure for measuring water quality using the species within the pond as biological indicators.

The method is based on the fact that different aquatic invertebrates have different tolerances to pollutants. For example Flatworms are very tolerant of pollutants and so can live in highly polluted waters. The Flatworm has a score of 1. A species that can only live in very healthy water is given a score of ten. So you can see how the species in your pond will give you a score that can tell you how healthy it is, the higher scoring species means the healthier the pond.

So what does your score from above mean for your ponds health?

Pond Health Score

Biological Quality

Over 100 Very good71 - 100 Good41 - 70 Fair11 - 40 Poor0 - 10 Very poor

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DATA SUMBISSON

Please either enter the data on our website:

www.yourgardenpondidme.org.uk or send this survey pack back to the following address:

WHY DO WE WANT TO KNOW THESE THINGS?

So by now you may be wondering why we have asked you some of these questions. This section provides the answers, offering the scientific background we used to compile the not so obvious questions;

How could the source of water affect diversity?Some pond owners fill or top up their ponds with tap water. Tap water has much higher levels of nitrates than the level found in natural ponds. Nitrates cause excessive nutrients in the water, encouraging plant growth. This exaggerated plant growth could smother submerging plants and animals [3].It would be interesting to see how the way you fill your ponds affects the diversity of them.

How could the size of the pond effect diversity?Macarthur and Wilson’s theory of island biogeography states that an area is positively related to species richness [6]. In other words the larger an area the more diverse it may be. It would be interesting to see if your garden ponds match this theory.

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How does vegetation shading effect diversity?The mechanisms of how this can affect diversity have not been sufficiently investigated. However there are several ways vegetation shading can affect diversity [3];

1. Overhanging vegetation can mean that water temperature, at least in the summer, is lower in ponds that are shaded. This could affect the ponds suitability for certain species.

2. Many pond invertebrates are dependent on the flight of relatively short-lived adults, if the pond is covered by overhanging vegetation then it could reduce the chance of invertebrates further colonizing it.

3. Most trees around ponds are deciduous; this means that autumn-shed leaves will be deposited into the pond. This decaying organic matter could cause reductions in the dissolved oxygen content of the pond.

How could the environment around the pond’s parameter affect diversity?The surroundings of the pond act as a buffer to the outer areas. This buffer could be a rockery or vegetation etc., if there is no buffer between the pond and other garden aspects then it could be effected by fertilizers and pesticides leaching into the pond. Buffer zones also add to the habitat complexity of the pond and could encourage different species.

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ITS EASY TO GET INVOLVED

Want to join in but don’t think you have enough space to have a pond? THINK

AGAIN.As we have mentioned Garden ponds are able to hold a large

diversity of freshwater animals no matter how big or expensive. One brilliant way to create a freshwater habitat in your garden is to bury a bucket or baby bath into the ground and fill it with rain water.

Then wait for the animals to find their new home!

Look on our website for a video showing how YOU can make an animal haven in your own backyard.

WHAT YOU CAN DO NEXT

If you go onto our website there are many things you can do to follow on from this booklet by creating your own username:

You can validate the identification of your own and others photographs

Find out more information about the species in your pond Compare your ponds quality with friends and family Find local people in your area who you could meet with to

survey different ponds. If you want to monitor the health of your own pond you can

update data about your pond many times throughout the years. This will allow you to monitor the health of your pond.

Order our FREE set of pond life Top Trump playing cards that could help you remember your identification skills whilst having fun!

Log on and have fun doing our species ID quizes that can help you imporve your idintification skills.

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REFERENCES

Links to these resources and many more topical content can be found on our website.

1. Godreau, D. W. Bornette, G. Frochot, B. Amoros, C. Castella, E. Oertli, B. Chambaud, F. Oberti, D & Craney, E. (1999). Biodiversity in the floodplain of Saone: a global approach. Biodiversity and Conservation. 8, 839-864

2. Williams, P. Whitfield, M & Biggs, J. (2004). Comparative biodiversity of rivers, streams, ditches and ponds in an agricultural landscape in Southern England. Biological Conservation. 115, 329-341.

3. Williams, P. Biggs, J. Whitfield, M. Thorne, A. Bryant, S. Fox, G & Nicolet, P. (1999). The Pond Book: A guide to the Management and Creation of Ponds. Ponds Conservation Trust, Oxford.

4. Biggs, J. Cortfield, A. Walker, D. Whitfield, M & Williams, P. (1994) New approaches to the management of ponds. British Wildlife.5, 273-287.

5. Boothby, J. Hull, A.P.(1997) A census of ponds in Cheshire, North West England. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems. 7, 75-79

6. MacArthur, R & Wilson, E. (1967). The theory of island biogeography. Princeton University Press.

IMAGES

The images used throughout this booklet have been taken from the following websites:

http://www.stickinsect.org.uk/

http://www.welshwildlife.org/events/pond-dipping-3-2014-08-04/

http://www.uk-wildlife.co.uk/category/freshwater-invertebrates/

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We want to say a big THANK YOU. We hope that you had fun and check out

our website for regular updates on what your

results are contributing to, further information and fun

games.