Ponds, Pools and Puddles

Ponds, pools, and puddles are important wildlife habitats that are often overlooked by freshwater biologists. This book provides a comprehensive and detailed account of these freshwater habitats, including their origin, types, abundance, and distribution in Britain. It also examines the physical and chemical environment of ponds, the variety of plant and animal life they support, and the importance of ponds to each of these groups. The book discusses the importance of conservation and how best to protect and manage ponds and pond wildlife in Britain today.

Format: Hardback
Length: 624 pages
Publication date: 28 March 2024
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Ponds and pools are a common feature of our landscape, with at least ten times as many ponds as lakes in the UK. They are not only aesthetically pleasing but also vital wildlife habitats, supporting a diverse range of plant and animal species. This book provides a comprehensive and detailed account of these freshwater habitats.

The first chapter discusses the definition, characteristics, and differences between ponds, pools, and puddles compared to rivers and lakes. It explores their origin, whether natural or man-made, and their abundance and distribution in Britain. The chapter also examines the physical and chemical environment of ponds, covering aspects such as size, shape, depth, hydrology, oxygen, and temperature.

A second chapter delves into the ancient natural habitats of ponds, which have existed for millennia on the Earth's surface. It compares ancient pond communities preserved in inter- and post-glacial sediments with modern pond communities. The chapter also examines the physical and chemical environment of ponds, covering aspects such as size, shape, depth, hydrology, oxygen, and temperature.

Ponds, pools, and puddles are important wildlife habitats, as rich in species as rivers and supporting rare and uncommon taxa, including about half of Britain's Red Data Book wetland plant and animal species. The authors provide a comprehensive survey of the variety of plant and animal life for which ponds, pools, and puddles are a habitat, with chapters dedicated to plants, invertebrates, amphibians, fish, birds, and mammals. The book discusses the importance of ponds to each of these groups and the ways in which the organisms exploit ponds, describing their habitats and major variations in life.

Two further chapters are devoted to the pond ecosystem and colonization and succession, before the final chapter, which is devoted to the subject of conservation and how best to protect and manage ponds and pond wildlife in Britain today.

Despite their evident importance, ponds have been largely ignored by freshwater biologists. This book aims to rectify that by providing a comprehensive and up-to-date account of these freshwater habitats and their significance to wildlife conservation. It is a valuable resource for researchers, conservationists, and anyone interested in learning more about ponds and their role in our environment.

Weight: 1508g
Dimension: 222 x 157 x 42 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780002200851