The aim of this research project is to provide data on freshwater biodiversity of ponds in the Irish agricultural landscape and to identify the principal drivers of patterns in pond biodiversity. Freshwater biodiversity is one of the major components of global biodiversity, yet is rapidly decreasing because of the degradation and destruction of freshwater systems, and their unsustainable use. The protection of freshwater biodiversity is the principal conservation priority during the 2005-2015 International Decade for Action "Water for Life". The compliance with a number of international environmental legislations urgently requires Information on biodiversity in freshwater habitats and on its main drivers.
This project focuses on the biodiversity value of ponds in the agricultural landscape, using aquatic beetles (Coleoptera) and wetland plants as indicators of pond ecological quality and anthropogenic disturbance. Specifically, this project aims to collect baseline data on the biodiversity value of farmland ponds and to identify the factors that contribute most to patterns in pond biodiversity. Predictive models will be developed to identify and predict the relationship between the structure of aquatic beetle assemblages and management practices (land use and grazing), physico-chemical variables and habitat characteristics, including the structure of wetland plant assemblages.



the majority of farmers and landowners showed a positive attitude towards the need to conserve and enhance freshwater biodiversity. Particularly in the areas of Mullingar (Co. Westmeath) and Maynooth (co. Kildare), farmers were interested in receiving suggestions on how to improve the ecological value of their ponds.

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Gioria, M.   "State of Knowledge Report: Aquatic Coleoptera assemblages in the Irish farmed landscape. The significance of ponds". Associated datasets and digitial information objects connected to this resource are available at: Secure Archive For Environmental Research Data (SAFER) managed by Environmental Protection Agency Ireland https://eparesearch.epa.ie/safer/resource?id=484d178d-03c1-102d-8e25-e9973852f3cf (Last Accessed: 2025-01-24)

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SAFER-Data Display URL	https://eparesearch.epa.ie/safer/iso19115/display?isoID=127
Resource Keywords	freshwater,biodiversity, ponds,Aquatic Coleoptera, Aquatic plants, Biodiversity, Invasive alien species, Nitrogen, Nonpoint source of pollution, Phosphorus, Agricultural landscape, Nitrates Directive, Habitats Directive
EPA/ERTDI/STRIVE Project Code	2007-FS-B-14-S5
EPA/ERTDI/STRIVE Project Theme	Water Quality
Resource Availability:	Public-Open
Limitations on the use of this Resource	Attachments (if any) connected to this resource can be used in journal article or other means of publication provided the original authors are informed of this usage and an appropriate acknowledgement or citation is included within the published article. The EPA advise that this acknowledgement should take one of the following forms dependent upon how heavily the published work relates to the downloaded report: * Co-Authorship(s) for the original author(s)* Written acknowledgement within the body of the article* Written acknowledgement by means of the inclusion of a bibliography entry which clearly cites the original authors. The EPA as a/the primary funder of the research should be acknowledged.
Number of Attached Files (Publicly and Openly Available for Download):	4
Project Start Date	Monday 1st October 2007 (01-10-2007)
Earliest Recorded Date within any attached datasets or digital objects	Monday 1st October 2007 (01-10-2007)
Most Recent Recorded Date within any attached datasets or digital objects	Tuesday 5th May 2009 (05-05-2009)
Published on SAFER	Tuesday 6th October 2009 (06-10-2009)
Date of Last Edit	Monday 1st February 2010 at 10:13:38 (01-02-2010)
Datasets or Files Updated On	Tuesday 6th October 2009 at 13:56:36 (06-10-2009)

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Description of Geographical Characteristics of This Project or Dataset
To date, the aquatic beetle and wetland plant assemblages of 54 farmland ponds were assessed. Of these ponds, 25 were located in southeastern Co. Wexford, 6 in Maynooth (Co. Kildare), and 23 in Mullingar (Co. Westmeath). A number of physico-chemical characteristics of those ponds, as well as information on land-use, grazing intensity, and management practices have been measured. Nearly half of the ponds were directly grazed by cattle, whilst the remaining ponds were either characterized by the presence of an electric fence system or by a buffer zone of grassland or woody vegetation. Water quality was poor in grazed ponds and fenced ponds where there was no vegetation to prevent runoff and nutrient enrichment. All the ponds were rather homogeneous in terms of pH, being either neutral or slightly alkaline.

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In this section some supplementary information about this resource is outlined. Lineage information helps us to understand why this project was carried out, what policy or research requirements did it fulfil, etc. Lineage is important in understanding the rationale behind the carrying out of a project or the collection of a specific dataset etc. Links to web sites, applications, papers, etc are outlined to provide you with additional information or supplementary reading about the project or dataset

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The following is a list of projects, datasets, and resources on SAFER-Data from which users downloaded attachments from soon after downloading attachments from this resource State of Knowledge Report: Aquatic Coleoptera assemblages in the Irish farmed landscape. The significance of ponds. You can view the full description for projects, datasets, and resources by using the links supplied.

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• Phosphorus, Nitrogen and Suspended Sediment loss from Soil to Water from Agricultural Grassland View Full Metadata Description
• Summary of Irish Soil Data from Scoping Study View Full Metadata Description
• Quantification of Erosion and Phosphorus Release from a Peat Soil Forest Catchment View Full Metadata Description
• Contaminant Movement and Attenuation along Pathways from the Land Surface to Aquatic Receptors - A Review View Full Metadata Description

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