Ponds are very special and important habitats. As real biodiversity hotspots they attract many different species for water, food and shelter. Research has shown that of all our freshwater habitats ponds are home to the highest number of aquatic plants and invertebrates.
This is one of the reasons why we monitoring of our ponds on the Purbeck Heaths and surrounding area. Information about the plant and animal species living in and around the pond, as well as its environmental parameters and dynamics tell us a lot about their condition. Research tells us that ponds in the UK are home to more then over 400 macro-invertebrates alone! Besides that this is already incredible, many of these invertebrates tell us also a lot about the quality of the pond.
Above a few photo’s of the aquatic invertebrate monitoring in 2023
Aquatic invertebrate monitoring in 2024
This year our primary focus will be on a number of ponds on Creech Heath (ARC) as well as Stoborough Heath (RSPB). In addition we will incorporate a few ponds from Studland Heath, Sandford Heath and Morden Bog. Most of the pond selected are also surveyed for Odonata species by the Dragonfly group on Wednesdays and Sundays.
During the months June to September our focus will be on sampling the ponds. This means that we use a set methodology to catch a representative sample of of invertebrates from each pond. Besides collecting invertebrate samples, we also measure some environmental parameters (pond size, vegetation, grazing pressure) as well as different water parameters (e.g. pH, conductivity, Nitrate and Phosphate). From October until February we will focus on analysing all the pond samples. This means that we will have a number of indoor sessions working on the identification of all the aquatic invertebrates we have caught.
A first ‘refresher’ pond sampling session is currently planned for Thursday the 13th of June. This session is to refresh the knowledge of everyone who join the pond sampling last year, but will also be a good introduction for those who want to join this group in 2024. If you like to be kept up-to-date about any aquatic invertebrate sessions taking place this year, please become a member of this group. It also means that you will receive a notification when new resources are available.
In the next few weeks a revised pond monitoring methodology will become available for this group. In addition more information will become available about our first session on the 13th of June. For any questions about the aquatic invertebrate surveys, please contact Jasper through the contact button or email: jasper.iepema@naturalengland.org.uk).
