Management of an ornamental pond as a conservation site for a threatened native fish species, crucian carp Carassius carassius

Abstract

Ornamental ponds are important sites for conserving threatened native fish species (e.g. crucian carp Carassius carassius L.), but pond management plans rarely include considerations of native fishes. We developed and implemented a management plan for a small (0.8 h), ornamental estate pond in Hertfordshire (England) using historical information (aquatic plant and animal surveys) and a 9-year data set on climatic variables and crucian carp body condition. Crucian carp growth was not correlated with climatic variables, but body condition decreased with increasing temperature (in degree-days), which suggests that temperature influences on growth are counter-balanced by environmental factors. Management included the removal of one fish species (to eliminate hybridization with another species) and the introduction of two native species (to re-balance the fish assemblage), a reduction in floating aquatic plants (to reduce shading of the sediments) as well as the use of a chemical agent to compact the pond’s fine sediments and barley straw to enhance invertebrate habitat and thus fish prey production.