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sticklebacks in new GCN pond: |
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Katia Bresso Member Joined: 23 Nov 2005 No. of posts: 11  View other posts by Katia Bresso |
Posted: 27 Mar 2007 HI everyone, One of two ponds which have been built as part of a DEFRA licence 2 years ago has now sticklebacks in it and no GCN or other amphibians (when the other pond has common toads breeding and a few GCN and smooth newts, and the ponds are only 25m away from each other). I blame the ducks as I saw some using the pond and I can't think of any other way how the fish could have got in. Anyway, I need to get rid of them and am thinking of electrofishing. The pond is 10m by 5m and up to 1.3m deep. Anybody has experience of this technique? Any contractors to recommend (it's in Kent). -I must say there is also an algae problem (more or less in both ponds but more in the pond with the fish) which I am planning to sort out with good old barley straw bales.- Thanks for your help in advance Katia Bresso - self employed consultant http://www.kbecology.co.uk/ |
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Chris Monk Senior Member Joined: 21 Apr 2004 No. of posts: 157  View other posts by Chris Monk |
Posted: 27 Mar 2007 Katia Electro-fishing is very inefficient at taking out the smaller fish like sticklebacks, so most would survive and it wouldn't really make a dent in their population. Depending on the size and type of the pond, drying out is 100% efficient at knocking out introduced sticklebacks. Could it be drained / pumped down and left dry for some time in summer? (After thorough survey for GCN taddies of course). Use of a pisicide has worked in the past to rid GCN ponds of sticklebacks. I think it was called rotonone or something like that. It's use was stopped some time ago as (although very effective), under the pesticide regulations it hadn't been registered for use as a pisicide. However, I think it is allowed again but it may be one of these special circumstances where you have to apply for a one off licence to use it this way. Duck's feet are always quoted as introducing things to ponds and they probably do but these days the introduction of fish to ponds is more likely to be due to people deliberately putting them there. Derbyshire Amphibian & Reptile Group www.derbyshirearg.co.uk |
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Caleb Forum Coordinator Joined: 17 Feb 2003 No. of posts: 448 View other posts by Caleb |
Posted: 28 Mar 2007 There's a case study of the 2005-2006 rotenone treatment at Orton Brick Pits here. |
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Katia Bresso Member Joined: 23 Nov 2005 No. of posts: 11 View other posts by Katia Bresso |
Posted: 28 Mar 2007 Thanks a lot for this info. I had thought about draining but it is not very practical for this site but I think this will be the way as teh use of rotanone is not possible still: Froglife had been granted a special licence to use this product for the trial they carried out in 2006. Thanks a lot for your advice Katia Bresso - self employed consultant http://www.kbecology.co.uk/ |
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David Bird Forum Specialist Joined: 17 Feb 2003 No. of posts: 515 View other posts by David Bird |
Posted: 28 Mar 2007 There are several papers on the use of Rotenone for control of fish in GCN ponds, I will try to find and then scan in. For the planktonic algae problem (phyto plankton) try to add in some Daphnia, water fleas (Zooplankton) which is the natural system in natural ponds and lakes and also are food for the young newts, it always works. British Herpetological Society Librarian and member of B.H.S Conservation Committee. Self employed Herpetological Consultant and Field Worker. |
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darlington_gcn Member Joined: 07 Mar 2007 No. of posts: 39  View other posts by darlington_gcn |
Posted: 02 May 2007 many of my GCN sites here in darlington seem to have both GCN and stickleback but obviously would be preferable without the stickleback Working on a 12 month conservation project with Durham Wildlife Trust and Darlington Borough Council on Great Crested Newts. Any help/advice appreciated - rjackson@durhamwt.co.uk |
- sticklebacks in new GCN pond |