The Natural Hedgehog: 2013

Thumbs up for pond life!

Dive into the world of the diving beetle ...

and discover the riches of life in our ponds

Great diving beetles may not look as appealing to us as some other species but they are kings of their domain in the same way that lions are of theirs. We need all the species that make up an area of habitat or ecosystem as they all form part of the delicate balance that is life on Earth.

Whilst cuter, cuddlier looking creatures may be more attention-grabbing, you will find many other forms of life on your doorstep that are just as worthy of attention.

Pond life is a prime example of this – most of it remains unseen but these unique ecosystems are teeming with life - all highly specialized to address the environmental challenges they face, and each having its own niche within the ecosystem.

As we discovered on the Malvern Hills Conservators’ Pond Life Day, exploring the life in local ponds can be fascinating and fun for all ages. It was good to see grandparents and grandchildren engaging with the event and learning what lies beneath the surface of an ordinary pond.

Ecologist Nigel Hand led the event and his enthusiasm and willingness to share his knowledge of this aquatic kingdom and its contents was contagious. He soon found some curious creatures, which were gently scooped up in a net and placed in bowls for us to have a closer look. The newts were favourites, especially with the children, and even more so for one boy whose face lit up when a newt wriggled and revealed its presence amidst the scoopful of matter he netted from the pond.

This smooth or common newt was a female of the species and joined the male and female found earlier.

Smooth newts - male in foreground with two females

The bigger and protected species the great crested newt is present in the area but proved elusive on this occasion. Undoubtedly, they would have stolen the show if they had put in an appearance, but their absence allowed us to pay more attention to other creatures.

The newts and diving beetle were the largest creatures we examined and with the late spring we were glad to find so many signs of life. There was a mass of frog spawn at the pond’s edge and a myriad of tiny creatures such as water fleas that are a major food source for much aquatic life. Other creatures we saw included pond snails, the backswimmer or water boatman and a water louse.

Apart from the pond-dwellers themselves, ponds also attract other wildlife such as herons which are voracious predators of pond inhabitants.

Ponds under threat

As with most natural habitat, there are threats facing ponds and their native inhabitants, and, as is too often the case, human activity is behind these threats.

A major threat is the invasion of non-native species such as the pond weed we saw beginning to spread across the pond’s surface – this has created an enormous challenge for conservationists as using any kind of chemical to eliminate it would be polluting to the habitat. A weevil has been used in some areas to consume the weed as it only eats this particular species, but the weevil itself is not a native and introducing any species in the hope of producing a particular outcome has very often backfired and unleashed environmental havoc. In this case, it seems the weevil has a short life cycle and where it has been used it appears not to impact on anything other than the pond weed it is required to consume.

Some particular pond dwellers are under threat such as the Oxbow diving beetle, whose numbers have declined by over 90% in recent decades and it is now extinct in some regions.

Natural habitat for wildlife is disappearing rapidly everywhere and this includes ponds. Such losses lead to further problems as areas of habitat suitable for particular species become more fragmented preventing opportunities for populations to grow and spread.

Ponds and you...

You can help by creating your own wildlife pond in your garden but to help native wildlife you need to ensure you only include native species. There is a wealth of information available to help with creating, stocking and managing your own pond including on selecting pond plants and advice on attracting dragonflies.

Please make sure too that your pond is hedgehog-friendly by including a ramp, which can simply be a slope covered with chicken wire that allows hedgehogs to clamber out safely.

Be Plant Wise and follow guidance on disposing of invasive aquatic plants and avoid dumping them in the wild.

Please be careful when in contact with ponds to ensure you don’t spread unwanted species or disease from one pond to another. Any nets, boots and other gear used needs to be fully cleaned and disinfected and allowed to dry before being used in another pond.

Ponds need protection -

· from pollution

· from disturbance

· from intrusion of non-native species of plants or animals

It is worth emphasising that this event was led by an ecologist who has specialised knowledge of the habitat and is licensed to handle great crested newts - it would be illegal for anyone else to.

It is inadvisable to go foraging in ponds without the guidance of someone with similar expertise who can ensure that this delicate ecosystem and its life-forms are not damaged in the process of exploring them.