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Biodiversity
Course: Topics In Biology (BIOL 462)
University: Bowie State University
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Sydney Barnes
Biodiversity Summary
Topics in Biology
Biodiversity in urban ponds is a topic of significant concern, as urbanization continues to expand globally. These
small water bodies, which can be found in cities, contribute to the conservation of freshwater biodiversity. Urban
ponds are essential as they can remain partly connected to rural biodiversity and can contribute to the conservation
of global biodiversity. The blue network in urban areas includes streams, canals, rivers, ponds, wetlands, reservoirs,
and lakes, which are crucial for supporting regional biodiversity. However, urban ponds often face different types of
pressures compared to their rural counterparts due to the urban environment's specific characteristics.
The research on urban pond biodiversity has been on the rise since the early 2000s, with the number of publications
increasing significantly. The main focus of this research can be divided into three key areas: assessing freshwater
biodiversity in urban ponds, understanding the driving factors that impact this biodiversity, and implementing
management strategies to adapt to or mitigate the effects of urbanization on these ecosystems.
Assessment of freshwater biodiversity in urban ponds mainly involves measures of species richness and
conservation value. The driving factors affecting biodiversity in urban ponds include local factors like water quality
and the presence of aquatic vegetation, as well as regional factors related to landscape structure, such as
connectivity, fragmentation, and pond isolation. While management is a critical aspect of urban pond biodiversity
research, there is a lack of standardized measures to evaluate the level of urbanization in different studies.
Researchers have used various criteria to measure the level of urbanization, including the presence of buildings or
roads, the proportion of impervious surfaces, the proportion of urban areas, and human population density. These
measurements are typically made within a certain radius around the pond or at the catchment or sub-catchment
scale. The variability in urbanization measures makes it challenging to conduct meta-analyses and underscores the
need for a standardized approach to assess urbanization.
The taxonomic groups investigated in urban pond biodiversity research are diverse and include flora, macrophytes,
vertebrates, invertebrates, mammals, fish, birds, insects, amphibians, reptiles, mollusks, and phytoplankton.
Different studies have focused on various taxonomic groups to gain a comprehensive understanding of the
biodiversity in urban ponds.
In summary, urban ponds play a vital role in supporting freshwater biodiversity in urban areas, and research in this
field has been expanding. However, the lack of standardized urbanization measures and the diversity of taxonomic
groups studied highlight the complexity of managing urban pond ecosystems. Addressing these challenges will be
essential for effective biodiversity conservation in urban environments.