Abstract
In some European regions, ponds are the dominant freshwater habitat type. The ecological value of ponds is decreasing owing to human activities, including intensive fish farming involving predation pressure from fish, reduction of macrophytic vegetation, high nutrient loads, and turbidity. Studies have shown the negative effects of high fish stocks on the diversity of macroinvertebrates. Nevertheless, the effect of fish predation on invertebrate communities could be strongly influenced by other factors, such as the structural complexity of aquatic vegetation. Consequently, we aimed to analyze the effects of environmental-trait interactions on the responses of amphibians, odonates, aquatic true bugs, and diving beetles that are directly or indirectly related to pond management. Each monitored group reflected very different variables. Odonates were sensitive to variables reflecting the quality of the aquatic environment and the overall landscape structure, and accurately reflected differences in the management intensity of ponds. Amphibians reflected only the landscape structure, while diving beetles reflected the quality of the aquatic environment. The aquatic Heteroptera community structure was very indifferent to the management and habitat quality. With the exception of oviposition strategies, we were unable to identify functional traits that could present adaptive advantages or disadvantages in relation to management intensity. We deduced that fish farming management is a selective mechanism that operates with an enormously high intensity which fundamentally homogenizes the structure of assemblages and therefore there is no morphological or phenological variability among species. It is therefore difficult to implement appropriate management measures that would benefit species across taxonomic groups. The key is to maintain the variability of the ponds and surrounding landscape mosaic. Moreover, farm ponds are secondary habitats whose role in supporting biodiversity may be important but cannot be seen as an equal alternative to natural wetlands.
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Acknowledgements
We thank Czech Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic which granted us permission to data sampling. We also thank Martina Valešová, Jiří Hronek and Lucie Dolejšová for their help with the data sampling and two anonymous reviewers for very stimulating comments and suggestions. This work was supported by the Czech Science Foundation (18-24425S).
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FH conceived and designed the analysis, collected the data, contributed data, performed the analysis and wrote the manuscript. JH, TH and HŠ contributed to the data collection and to the writing of the manuscript.
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The Authors declare that there is no conflict of interest. The study was conducted in compliance with ARRIVE guidelines. Amphibians handling was carried out according to the European Union Directive 2010/63/EU for the protection of animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes, the “Guidelines for the treatment of animals in behavioural research and teaching’. No mortality or stress was observed. We declare that all other manipulations with animals were performed in accordance with relevant guidelines, regulations and ethics.
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Harabiš, F., Hronková, J., Holer, T. et al. Selective effect of fish farming management on freshwater diversity. Biodivers Conserv 32, 735–753 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-022-02521-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-022-02521-7