Macroinvertebrate diversity of man-made ponds: Integrated Constructed Wetlands

(ICWs)

Gustavo Becerra-Jurado, Rory Harrington

& Mary Kelly-Quinn

University College Dublin, IrelandWaterford County Council

Outline main findings on ICW ponds, including a comparison with natural ponds

Present the full macroinvertebrate diversitypotential, with particular reference toColeoptera

Objectives

Background Information

Wetlands Definitions:1. Mitsch and Gosselink, 2000:

-Variable hydrology-Hydric soils-Hydrophytes High biodiversity

2. Different types...Ponds: “a waterbody between 25 m2

and 2 ha in area, which may be permanent or seasonal”

Integrated Constructed Wetlands

• Series of interconnected ponds that treat wastewater from farms

• Uses wetland’s natural ability to cleanse water

• Potential hotspots for landscape biodiversity

• A number of them have been built in Ireland

Wastewater in

Clean

water

out

to

river

1 32 4

Study Area

ICWs

Materials and Methods

• 1 mm mesh pond net

• Three, 3-min multihabitat samples

• Two seasons: spring and summer

Pond ActionBiggs et al. 1998

Mesohabitats

Mesohabitats

1:300:30

1:00

Mesohabitats

Average % taxon count

0

20

40

60

80

100

1Methods

% t

axa

Exclusive nets

Exclusive traps

Common

Study on sampling methods

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

0 10 20 30 40 50

% Taxa exclusive to pond netting

% E

me

rge

nt

ve

ge

tati

on

co

ve

rag

e

•Most taxa are common

to both methods

• A number of taxa are

exclusive to traps

• Fewer exclusive taxa

are caught by netting in

ponds with high

percentage of emergent

vegetation

P<0.01

(Becerra-Jurado et al. Hydrobiologia 2008)

Sampling protocol

3x3 min multihabitat net sampling (Biggs et al., 1998)

Setting 10 activity traps per mesohabitat for 48h

Spring and summer 2006

Samples preserved in alcohol 70%

Samples sorted in the lab on adjusted tray whennecessary

Identification level: Species except from Diptera

Results on biodiversity: ICW ponds

ICW systems: (Two-way nested ANOVA, F4,30 = 4.32, P < 0.05) Ponds within systems: (Two-way nested ANOVA, F10,30 = 10.99, P < 0.01)

Becerra-Jurado et al. Wetlands 2010

Coleoptera

49% Hemiptera

15%

Diptera

8%Gastropoda

8%Trichoptera

7%

Hirudinea

4%

Other

9%

Macroinvertebrate groups

ICW systems: (PERMANOVA, F4,30 = 13.00, P < 0.01)Ponds within systems: (PERMANOVA, F10,30 = 9.08, P < 0.01)

Becerra-Jurado et al. Wetlands 2010

Results on biodiversity: ICW vs natural ponds

Wastewater in

Clean

water

out

to

river

1 32 4

ICWs

Two-way ANOVA testing for differences in taxon richness due to nature of the pond

(natural or artificial), season (spring or summer) and the interaction between the

two factors

Factor df. MS F-ratio P-value

Nature 1 76.1 1.25 0.280

Season 1 151.3 2.49 0.134

Interaction 1 61.3 1.00 0.330

Residual 16 60.8

ICWs vs. Natural ponds

Becerra-Jurado et al. Wetlands 2010

Nature, i.e. natural vs. constructed: (PERMANOVA, F4,30 = 13.00, P < 0.01)Season, i.e. spring vs. summer: (PERMANOVA, F10,30 = 9.08, P < 0.01)

Becerra-Jurado et al. Wetlands 2010

Main findings

Significant differences along ICW ponds

1. Taxon richness

2. Community structure

Significant differences between ICW (last ponds in thesystem) and natural ponds

Community structure

ICW full macroinvertebrate

diversity potential: Coleoptera

Coleoptera diversity

Species composition

68 water beetle species

(21% of all species present in Ireland)

A number of species of interest (Foster et al., 2009):

Helophorus strigifrons Thomson VU

Enochrus melanocephalus (Olivier) NT

pH = 6.5-8

Optimize pond habitat

Coleoptera diversity

88 water beetle species

(27% of all species present in Ireland)

A number of additional species of interest (Foster et al., 2009):

Agabus conspersus (Marsham) EN

Berosus signaticollis (Charpentier) EN

Helophorus nanus Sturm VU

Ilybius subaeneus Erichson VU

Hydraena testacea Curtis VU

pH = 6.5-8

Factors drivingdiversity?

Factors driving diversity

1. Area: In general biodiversity increases witharea but depends on the macroinvertebrategroup

2. Habitat heterogeneity: diverse water depthprofile increases biodiversity

3. Water quality: In general biodiversityincreases with water quality

Becerra-Jurado et al. Hidrobiologia 2012

Conclusions

ICWs have the capacity tohost a high number of macroinvertebrate species in farmland areas (pH 6.5-8)

ICWs can play a significantrole in the conservation of aquatic macroinvertebrates, especially Coleoptera

ICWs

As recipients of future efforts to enhance aquatic biodiversity the last ponds of the ICW systems have the highest potential due to the improved water quality

ICWs

Future management efforts should also consider the presence of potential rare species

This could be achieved by creating a number of shallower clean ponds at selected sites and varied mosaic designs

ICWs

The total ICW area may be increased to ensureexcellent water quality at the end of the system, comparable to natural ponds

Depending on the intendeduse the last ponds should be designed targetingspecific biota

ICWs

ReferencesBecerra-Jurado, G., Masterson, M., Harrington, R. and Kelly-Quinn, M. (2007). Evaluation of sampling methods for macroinvertebratebiodiversity estimation in heavily vegetated ponds. Hydrobiologia636:153-165

Becerra-Jurado, G. Johnson, J. and Kelly-Quinn, M. (2007). A new record of Dytiscus circumflexus 1801, from Co. Waterford, Ireland. Bulletin of Irish Biogiographical Society 31: 194-196.

Becerra-Jurado, G. (2008). Contribution of Integrated Constructed Wetlands to catchment biodiversity and water quality management. PhD Thesis, University College Dublin.

Becerra-Jurado, G., Callanan, M., Gioria, M., Baars, J.-R. Harrington, R. and Kelly-Quinn, M. (2009). Comparison of macroinvertebratecommunity structure and driving factors in natural an wastewater treatment ponds. Hydrobiologia 636:153-165

ReferencesBecerra-Jurado, G., Johnson, J., Feely, H., Harrington, R. and Kelly-Quinn, M. (2010). The potential of Integrated Constructed Wetlands (ICWs) to enhance macroinvertebrate diversity in agricultural landscapes. Wetlands30: 393-404.

Becerra-Jurado, G., Harrington, R. & Kelly-Quinn, M. (2012). A review of the potential of surface flow constructed wetlands to enhance macroinvertebrate diversity in agricultural landscapes with particular reference to Integrated Constructed Wetlands (ICWs). Hydrobiologia 692: 121-130.

Biggs, J., Fox, G., Nicolet, D., Walker, M., Whitfield, M. & Williams, P. (1998). A guide to the methods of the National Pond Survey. Pond Action: Oxford. 17 pp.

Mitsch and Gosselink (2000). Wetlands, 3d ed. John Wiley & Sons, New York.

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank everyone involved!!!

In particular, Prof. Garth Foster, Dr. Brian Nelson, Dr. Jim Johnson, Dr. Hugh Feeley, Mr. Mark Masterson and Waterford County Council.

Macroinvertebrate diversity of man-made ponds: Integrated Constructed Wetlands

(ICWs)

Gustavo Becerra-Jurado, Rory Harrington

& Mary Kelly-Quinn

University College Dublin, IrelandWaterford County Council