Ephemeral Ponds & Climate Change in Upland Wales

The ephemeral ponds on the mineral upland soils of eastern Wales are a rare habitat type found in only a few places in the UK. Similar ponds elsewhere suggest that detailed study will reveal a range of rare invertebrates and it is already known that the protected Fairy Shrimp (Chirocephalus diaphanu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The international journal of climate change. Impacts and responses 2010, Vol.2 (2), p.137-150
Main Authors: Bransden, Anna, Slater, Fred
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Climate change
Hydrologic cycle
Invertebrates
Minerals
Ponds
Rainfall
Soils
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:The ephemeral ponds on the mineral upland soils of eastern Wales are a rare habitat type found in only a few places in the UK. Similar ponds elsewhere suggest that detailed study will reveal a range of rare invertebrates and it is already known that the protected Fairy Shrimp (Chirocephalus diaphanus) is widespread as is the protected Pteridophyte Pilularia globulifera. The general plant assemblage represents a previously undescribed plant association. Most still waterbodies are subject to hydroseral change but these ephemeral ponds rejuvenate on each hydrological cycle so remain shallow but persistent features of the landscape. If climate change alters rainfall patterns the hydroperiod of these ponds will change and the implications of such change will be addressed in this paper.
ISSN:1835-7156
DOI:10.18848/1835-7156/CGP/v02i02/37313