Biodiversity in Wet Sedimentation Ponds: Constructed for Receiving Road Runoff

Abstract

Twelve wet sedimentation ponds, constructed for receiving road runoff, were sampled over a two year period from April 2013 to October 2014. Samples of benthic invertebrates, zooplankton and amphibian were taken in April, June, August and October in both years. Samples for chemical analysis were taken on these occasions. Macrophytes were assessed in August/September 2013 and additional zooplankton samples were taken in August 2016. In general, despite high pollution levels, taxa richness in all groups was high. However, there was considerable variation in taxa richness among the twelve ponds, both within the various groups and between ponds. Despite high pollution levels, wet sedimentation ponds make a positive contribution to freshwater biodiversity in a habitat that is under threat from a wide variety of impacts.