Biological communities and environmental controls in a seasonal wetland habitat

Abstract

In a context of global biodiversity decline, ponds have been identified as biologically rich habitats, and temporary ponds can support distinct communities of rare species. Some pond habitats, including dune slacks, are conserved under the ED Habitats Directive, and their conservation status must be assessed once every six years by signatory states. Dune slacks are an example of a habitat which is periodically disturbed and experiences habitat heterogeneity, with both a dry and a flooded phase annually. The objective of this research was to determine whether the underlying conditions of dune slacks allow their biological assemblages to respond differently to environmental conditions.