Water chemistry, vegetation, and spatial variables affecting aquatic insect biodiversity in Edmonton stormwater management facilities, as compared to wetlands across Alberta, Canada

Urban stormwater ponds present an opportunity for aquatic biodiversity conservation within cities. However, stormwater ponds receive city runoff and other effects of urbanization, which may mean that only certain species can live in them. A landscape-scale comparison of urban and rural pond biodiversity has not been performed in Canada. We will sample aquatic insect biodiversity and measure environmental variables in 35 Edmonton stormwater ponds, and test what variables explain insect biodiversity measures. We will then use Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute data for the same taxa from 1168 ponds across Alberta to analyze in what ways Edmonton’s urban ponds are similar to ponds across the province, in terms of both environmental variables and aquatic insect species composition. From this we will develop urban pond management recommendations to increase aquatic insect biodiversity, and assess the conservation value of Edmonton’s stormwater ponds in the context of aquatic insect biodiversity across the broader landscape.

Faculty Supervisor:

Carol Frost;John Acorn

Student:

Partner:

EPCOR Water Services Inc

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Utilities

University:

University of Alberta

Program: