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Artificial ponds in a Mediterranean region (Andalusia, southern Spain): agricultural and environmental issues
Author(s) -
Casas Jesús,
Toja Julia,
Bonachela Santiago,
Fuentes Francisca,
Gallego Irene,
Juan Melchor,
León David,
Peñalver Patricio,
Pérez Carmen,
Sánchez Pedro
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
water and environment journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.437
H-Index - 37
eISSN - 1747-6593
pISSN - 1747-6585
DOI - 10.1111/j.1747-6593.2010.00221.x
Subject(s) - mediterranean climate , agriculture , naturalisation , environmental science , geography , vegetation (pathology) , precipitation , biodiversity , hydrology (agriculture) , water resource management , ecology , biology , geology , archaeology , medicine , geotechnical engineering , pathology , politics , meteorology , citizenship , political science , law
A total of 16 543 artificial ponds were inventoried. Ninety‐one per cent of the ponds were classified as for farming use. Generally, the fraction of farm land converted to pond structures was close to that predicted from the average annual precipitation in the region. However, in several areas, this fraction was remarkably higher than the value predicted, probably due to excessive groundwater extraction. Overall, the naturalisation stage of ponds was poor. However, ponds sited on natural substrate basins had more structured‐marginal vegetation, compared with ponds of artificial substrate basins. Furthermore, other factors related to pond management might seriously limit their naturalisation stage. Despite the high abundance of ponds in Andalusia, our results suggest that, in order to improve the potential for biodiversity conservation in these environments, substantial structural and management changes are required.