Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, 30 Marie Curie Private, Ottawa, Ontario, K1N 6N5, Canada; St. Lawrence River Institute of Environmental Sciences, 2 St. Lawrence Drive, Cornwall, Ontario, Canada, K6H 4Z1.
Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, 30 Marie Curie Private, Ottawa, Ontario, K1N 6N5, Canada.
Environ Pollut. 2020 Aug;263(Pt B):114472. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114472. Epub 2020 Apr 5.
Cities are increasingly using constructed ponds to mitigate flooding and downstream water pollution from urban runoff. As a result, these stormwater ponds can have poor water quality, yet they can also attract wildlife. In this study, the effects of water quality on dragonflies and damselflies (Odonata) were determined in stormwater ponds (n = 41) and natural reference ponds (n = 10) of similar size across the National Capital Region of Canada. A total of 38 chemical/physical water quality variables along with Odonata nymph abundance and taxonomic composition were sampled at each pond. Chloride concentrations exceeded the guideline for the protection of aquatic life at over two-thirds of the stormwater ponds. Among all the metals tested, only Cu exceeded guidelines at many stormwater ponds. Both dragonfly and damselfly nymphs were on average less abundant in the stormwater ponds in comparison to the natural ponds. Ponds with high concentrations of chloride and metals typically had lower dragonfly abundance. Dragonfly community structure was significantly influenced by high chloride (or conductivity), which likely originates from winter road salting. In contrast, damselfly community structure in the stormwater ponds was similar to that found in natural ponds, with nutrients and metals explaining a small percent of variation in community structure. A water quality index developed to assess habitats for the protection of aquatic life did not significantly explain Odonata abundance or measures of diversity and may not be suitable in assessing pond habitat quality. To improve pond habitats within cities, efforts should be directed at reducing the amount of impervious surface and road salt usage within catchment basins.
城市越来越多地利用人工池塘来减轻城市径流引起的洪水和下游水污染。因此，这些雨水池塘的水质可能较差，但也能吸引野生动物。在这项研究中，通过在加拿大国家首都地区的雨水池塘（n=41）和自然参考池塘（n=10）中比较大小相似的池塘，确定了水质对蜻蜓目（Odonata）水虿和成虫的影响。在每个池塘中，共采样了 38 种化学/物理水质变量以及蜻蜓目水虿的丰度和分类组成。超过三分之二的雨水池塘中，氯化物浓度超过了保护水生生物的指南值。在所测试的所有金属中，只有 Cu 在许多雨水池塘中超过了指导值。与自然池塘相比，雨水池塘中的蜻蜓目水虿和成虫的丰度平均较低。氯浓度和金属浓度高的池塘通常蜻蜓目水虿的丰度较低。蜻蜓目群落结构受高浓度氯化物（或电导率）的显著影响，这可能源于冬季道路撒盐。相比之下，雨水池塘中的豆娘群落结构与自然池塘中的相似，养分和金属仅解释了群落结构变化的一小部分。为了评估水生生物保护的栖息地而开发的水质指数并没有显著解释蜻蜓目丰度或多样性的度量，可能不适合评估池塘栖息地质量。为了改善城市内池塘的栖息地，应努力减少集水区的不透水表面和道路盐的使用量。
