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Abstract(s)
Natural swimming pools are artificially created ponds, where
the ecological processes occurring in the natural water bodies
are recreated. These ponds constitute recreational spaces of
low environmental impact, because no chemical products for
water purification are used. Clarifying and purifying of the water
is achieved through biological filters and plants growing in the
system. Since no conventional chemicals are added to water,
these ponds are rapidly colonized by a wide range of organisms
such as plankton, macro-invertebrates and some vertebrates.
Therefore, natural swimming ponds promote biodiversity
maintenance and increase the aesthetic value of the surrounding
landscape meaning. In this work are presented the results of
faunal surveys performed in several natural swimming pools
across Portugal. The zooplankters more frequently found were:
the copepods A. robustus and C.numidiacus; the cladocerans
Ceripdaphnia pulchella, Daphnia longispina/pulex, Simocephalus
vetulus, Alona sp. Chidorus sphaericus and the rotifer Keratella
cochlearis. The most emblematic macro-invertebrates found,
were the dragonflies Anax imperator, Coenagrion scitulum,
Crocothemis erythraea, Diplacodes levebvrei, Erythromma
lindenii, Gomphus pulchellus, Ischnura graellsi, Libellula
quadrimaculata, Orthetrum cancellatum Orthetrum chrysostigma
and Orthetrum coerulescen. Amphibians such as, the newts
Lissotriton boscai, Triturus marmoratus and Triturus pygmaeus;
the salamander Pleurodeles waltl, the tree frog Hyla meridionalis;
the frog Rana perezii; the toads, Pelobates cultripes and Bufo
spinosus use natural swimming pools for reproduction. The
most common reptiles were the viperine water snake (Natrix
maura) and the terrapins (Mauremys leprosa) were frequently
found. Concerning birds, squacco heron (Ardeola ralloides),
grey heron (Ardea cinerea) and kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) were
the commonest species found in the pools surroundings. The
presence of otter (Lutra lutra) was also detected. Some of the
mentioned species are considered to be endangered. The role
of natural swimming pools as stepping stones habitats at the
landscape scale is also discussed.
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Keywords
Citation
Geraldes, Ana Maria; Schwarzer, Claudia; Schwarzer, Udo (2014). Natural swimming pools: stepping stones habitats at the landscape scale? In XVII Congresso of Iberian Association of Limnology. Santander