Aquatic Ecology and SUDS Ponds Standing Conference 26 th meeting Dunfermline

Topics + Reasons for encouragement of the ecology of SUDS + Enhancement of habitat and biodiversity in SUDS + Ecology at DEX

Policy Context + National Planning Policy Guidelines –NPPG 14 Natural Heritage + Planning Advice Notes –PAN 60 Planning for Natural Heritage –PAN 61 Planning and SUDS

Factors of importance for ecology in SUDS 1. Physical design 2. Use of suitable plant species 3. Maintenance considerations

Habitat variety Linked complexes: ponds, running waters, wetlands + + submerged/floating + + emergent + + reedbeds + + marsh + + carr

Habitat design Ponds + + floating rafts and islands + + variety of depths + + maximum depth 3m + + spits + + gently sloping/shelving sides

Habitat design Wetlands + + ensure base flow + + ensure storage capacity + + variety of depths + + inclusion of pools

Colonisation of SUDS + Self-colonisation best + Planting-up –safety –water treatment –protection of basin –landscape value

Sources of plants for SUDS + avoid taking from the wild + river/canal management programmes + SUDS + specialist supplier of native species

Suitability of plants for SUDS + geology, sediment, water type + pollutant loading + water/sediment pollutant concentration + water level changes

Introduced versus native plants + Native plants form habitat associations with other natives. + Native plants support native fauna. + Aliens may exhibit inferior growth rates. + Aliens may breed with native species. + Aliens may spread to semi-natural waters.

Alien plants + Azolla filiculoides + Crassula helmsii + Egeria densa + Elodea canadensis, E. nuttallii + Hydrocotyle ranunculoides + Lagarosiphon major + Myriophyllum aquaticum

Native plants + Phragmites australis, Glyceria maxima,Typha latifolia, Iris pseudacorus + Lythrum salicaria, Veronica beccabunga, Myosotis scorpioides

Native plants + Sparganium erectum, Caltha palustris, Eleocharis palustris, Persicaria amphibia, Menyanthes trifoliata + Nuphar lutea, Nymphaea alba, Potamogeton natans, P.pusillus, P.crispus, Zannichellia palustris

Maintenance + undertake staged development + stagger management procedures + provide wildlife corridors + provide pre pond/wetland basin

Ecology at DEX + Pond Action (2000) –Linburn Pond NT –Halbeath Pond NT –Calais Wood Marsh NT –Pond 5 NT –2 retention basins NT130878, NT125863

Diversity + Retention ponds –3 to 6 species of macrophyte + Calais Wood Marsh Pond –40 species of invertebrate –25 species of macrophyte

Naturalness + Native species outwith range –Sagittaria sagittifolia –Ludwigia palustris + Cultivars + Alien species –Crassula helmsii –Elodea nuttallii –Lagarosiphon major

Rarity + No nationally scarce or Red List species + Calais Wood Marsh, Halbeath Pond, Pond 5 –>3 locally uncommon species

Studies of SUDS ponds elsewhere + Water voles (Motorola, Bathgate) + Frogs and newts (Freeport, West Calder) + Newt larvae (Houston Caw Burn) + Uncommon cased-caddis fly (West Calder) + Limosella aquatica (Clyde Valley)

Summary statement Despite the artificial nature of SUDS ponds, through consideration of design, location, sourcing of plants and maintenance procedures, well in advance of the development, ecological potential can be maximised.