Invertebrates in stormwater wet detention ponds - Sediment accumulation and bioaccumulation of heavy metals have no effect on biodiversity and community structure.
The invertebrate diversity in nine stormwater wet detention ponds (SWDP) was compared with the diversity in eleven small shallow lakes in the western part of Denmark. The SWDPs and lakes were chosen to reflect as large a gradient of pollutant loads and urbanization as possible. The invertebrates as well as the bottom sediments of the ponds and shallow lakes were analyzed for copper, iron, zinc, cadmium, chromium, lead, aluminum, nickel, arsenic and the potentially limiting nutrient, phosphorus. The Principal Component Analysis showed that invertebrates in SWDPs and lakes differed with respect to bioaccumulation of these elements, as did the sediments, albeit to a lesser degree. However, the Detrended Correspondence Analysis and the TWINSPAN showed that the invertebrate populations of the ponds and lakes could not be distinguished, with the possible exception of highway ponds presenting a distinct sub-group of wet detention ponds. The SWDPs and shallow lakes studied seemed to constitute aquatic ecosystems of similar taxon richness and composition as did the 11 small and shallow lakes. This indicates that SWDPs, originally constructed for treatment and flood protection purposes, become aquatic environments which play a local role for biodiversity similar to that of natural small and shallow lakes.
Department of Civil Engineering, Aalborg University, Thomas Manns Vej 23, 9220 Aalborg East, Denmark. Electronic address: das@civil.aau.dk.
Diana Agnete
DA
Stephansen
Department of Civil Engineering, Aalborg University, Thomas Manns Vej 23, 9220 Aalborg East, Denmark.
Asbjørn Haaning
AH
Nielsen
Department of Environmental Engineering, Aalborg University, Fredrik Bajers Vej 7H, 9200 Aalborg East, Denmark.
Thorkild
T
Hvitved-Jacobsen
Department of Civil Engineering, Aalborg University, Thomas Manns Vej 23, 9220 Aalborg East, Denmark.
Morten Lauge
ML
Pedersen
Department of Civil Engineering, Aalborg University, Thomas Manns Vej 23, 9220 Aalborg East, Denmark.
Jes
J
Vollertsen
D000818:Animals; D044822:Biodiversity; D003718:Denmark; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis*; D007448:Invertebrates; D060106:Lakes / Q000032:analysis; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D061005:Ponds / Q000032:analysis; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
Aquatic ecosystems; Bioaccumulation; Biodiversity; Heavy metals; Wet detention ponds