Project title: Selective effect of fish farming on freshwater communities
Project number: 18-24425S
Programme: GAČR
Project coordinator: Ing. Michaela Kopřivová Stejskalová, Ph.D.
Project leader: Mgr. Filip Harabiš, Ph.D.
Project schedule: 2018 - 2020
Total project budget: 4 588 000 CZK
Abstract:
Ponds provide vital ecological services and serve as irreplaceable breeding sites and key habitats for many rare and endangered species of plants, invertebrates and vertebrates. Ponds are widely regarded as biodiversity hotspots. The ecological value of ponds is nevertheless decreasing due to such human activities as intensive fish farming involving predation pressure from fish, reduction of macrophyte vegetation, high nutrient loads, and turbidity. Although numerous studies indicate strong correlation between abundance of macrophyte vegetation, fish predation pressure and diversity of aquatic communities, there remains a paucity of information about the functioning of the relevant individual mechanisms. We aim to focus on the mechanisms behind the formation of aquatic communities while assuming that fishpond management acts as a filter of the regional species pool. In other words, fishpond management selects species with certain characteristics. An understanding of these mechanisms may be the key to maintaining high ß diversity in fishpond areas.