The effects of amenity management for angling on the conservation value ofaquatic invertebrate communities in old industrial ponds

The conservation value of aquatic macroinvertebrate assemblages in old indu strial mill ponds was examined within the urban environment. Of the 60 pond sites identified, 18 (31%) have been drained and/or redeveloped since 1985 . Canonical correspondence analysis identified differences between the inve rtebrate communities of managed and unmanaged ponds. Community composition was strongly influenced by the percentage of vegetation cover and the prese nce of stocked fish for recreational angling. Managed/stocked ponds have co mmunities dominated by burrowing Oligochaeta and Chironomidae. Unmanaged si tes had higher macroinvertebrate diversity compared to managed/stocked pond s and were typified by larval Trichoptera, Coleoptera and Zygoptera. Howeve r, unmanaged and 'derelict' sites are at greater risk of drainage and redev elopment in the urban environment. The potential conflict between active ma nagement of old industrial mill ponds for recreational angling and the cons ervation of macroinvertebrate biodiversity is explored. (C) 2001 Elsevier S cience Ltd. All rights reserved.