Upton Meadows SUDS. Eleven years of monitoring. Dr Janet Jackson Senior lecturer in Ecology and Environmental Management

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1 Upton Meadows SUDS Eleven years of monitoring Dr Janet Jackson Senior lecturer in Ecology and Environmental Management

2 Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) at Upton Meadows SUDS B SUDS A Crown Copyright Ordnance Survey supplied by Edina (2009)

3 Photographic monitoring Oct 03 Feb 04 Sept 04Jan May Aug 05 Jun 07 Jan Mar Feb Aug Jun Mar 12 14

4 Amphibians and Retiles Smooth newt Frogs Toads Grass snakes Grass snake (Richard Wilson) Roundup Regular is highly toxic to amphibians (particularly for frogs at low levels - when applied when they are in their larvae aquatic stage (King and Wagner 2010).

5 Birds like SUDS Red List Status Grey Partridge (a family) Reed bunting Skylark Amber status Snipe Lapwing Grey Wagtail House Martins (large flock) Greylag Geese Fieldfare Redwing Mistle Thrush Jim Nicolson OK Little ringed plover (nesting) Common Mallard Starlings Canada Geese BTO The population status of Birds in the UK

6 Family Paul Newman SUDS A Macroinvertebrates: Migrating up from the River Nene Site 1 is at the top of the catchment Site 10 is at the outlet

7 13 SPECIES OF ODONATA HAVE BEEN FOUND IN LARVAE and ADULT FORM AT UPTON MEADOWS

8 Movement of Bat populations Langley (2006) Along Upton Lane 2008 no sig. diff Upton Construction Site Aldham (2009) Bat species detected Brown long eared Common pipistrelle Soprano pipistrelle Daubenton s Noctule

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12 Plants expected to be present would be dependent of periods of retention and adaptation to water logged soils Today s focus Ecological Succession Arable weeds - colonised bare ground but sensitive to mowing Arable weeds and some grassed are intolerant of water logging

13 Number of Months Rainfall totals per month: below or above the total average over 11 years Year ABOVE BELOW

14 The Pioneers Proximity to the River Nene Wind dispersal Uncovered seed bank Bird and mammal dispersal

15 Wetland plant community development Associated with contouring providing a variety of profiles = a diversity of microhabitats Open water in ponds with marginal areas Shallow wetlands Temporary ponds

16 Seven species of Rush along one pond (Survey in August 2004) Eleocharis palustris Juncus acutifloris Juncus articulatus Juncus bufonius Juncus effuses Juncus inflexus Juncus subnidulosus Typha latifolia Alisma plantagoaquatica Rannuculus sceleratus Veronica beccabunga Common Spiked rush Sharp flowered rush Jointed rush Toad rush Soft rush Hard rush Blunt flowered rush Reedmace Water Plantain Celery leaved Buttercup Brooklime

17 Development of NVC WETLAND COMMUNITITES S4: Phragmites australis Swamp and reedbed community (can include Typha latifolia) CHARACTERISTIC OF OPEN WATER TRANSITIONS AND FLOODPLAIN MIRES WITH PERMENANT OR LONG STANDING WATER WHICH NEVER DRY. S12: Typha latifolia Swamp: Alisma plantago-aquatica sub-community CAN BE SPECIES POOR WITH SOME Eleocharis palustris, SCATTERED Alisma plantago-aqautica WITH OCCASSIONAL Ranunculus sceleratus. CAN BE AFFECTED BY EUTROPHICATION AND CAN BECOME CHOKED. S19: Eleocharis palustris Swamp SWAMP OF STANDING OR RUNNING WATER UP TO 50CM DEEP, AROUND LAKES, PONDS AND STREAMS.

18 Weir Pond 2004

19 Thypha latifolia Reedmace

20 Phragmites australis Water Reed

21 Reed Pond 2005

22 Reed Pond 2008

23 Reed Pond 2011

24 Reed Pond 2014 We need a better understanding on the ecological responses to hydrological conditions ~ weather

25 Sediment Transport

26 May 2012

27 Changes in plant community composition Phytofiltration indicated by terrestrial species Conservation management decision making can be aligned to SUDS anagement requirements

28 Sediment and pollutant sources

29 Next steps in monitoring and research Phytofiltration and Phytoremediation Ecosystem Services Characteristics of sediment Urban pollutants Retention periods & capacity Pulsing in storm events a through monitoring network (Trolls) (PhD study) Conservation management Economic potential of willows