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Golf courses and wetland fauna
Johan Colding1, Jakob Lundberg, Stefan Lundberg
1The Beijer Institute of Ecological Economics, Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, Stockholm, Sweden. Johanc@beijer.kva.se
Ecological Applications : a Publication of the Ecological Society of America
|September 23, 2009
Summary
Golf courses can support wetland fauna, including amphibians and macroinvertebrates. These ecosystems, especially in urban areas, offer valuable habitat and contribute to wetland conservation efforts.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Conservation Biology
- Environmental Science
Background:
- Golf courses are often perceived as detrimental to wildlife due to chemical use.
- However, their potential to support biodiversity, particularly wetland fauna, remains underexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of golf courses in supporting wetland fauna, specifically amphibians and macroinvertebrates.
- To compare fauna diversity and occurrence on golf course ponds versus off-course ponds.
Main Methods:
- Field surveys of amphibian and macroinvertebrate communities in ponds on golf courses and in nature-protected/residential areas in Stockholm.
- Statistical analysis of species composition, diversity, and occurrence of conservation concern species.
- Geographic Information System (GIS) analysis to assess pond availability.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in macroinvertebrate species richness between golf course and off-course ponds.
- Golf course ponds exhibited more homogenous macroinvertebrate species composition.
- Great crested newt (Triturus cristatus) and large white-faced darter dragonfly (Leucorrhinia pectoralis) were more frequently found or exclusively detected on golf course ponds.
- Golf courses provide a significant proportion of permanent freshwater ponds in urban settings.
Conclusions:
- Golf courses can positively contribute to wetland fauna conservation, especially in urban environments.
- Involvement of ecologists in golf course design can enhance their potential for wetland creation and biodiversity support.
- These findings challenge the negative perception of golf courses as solely detrimental ecosystems.
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