1. BIODIVERSITY-PROMOTING STORMWATER SYSTEMS
Zhenhua Sun1, Sondre Meland2,3, Ekaterina Sokolova1, Sebastien Rauch1, Svein Jakob Saltveit4 and John E. Brittain4
1Chalmers University of Technology
2Norwegian Public Roads Administration
3Norwegian University of Life Sciences
4University of Oslo: Natural History Museum
Funded by: Norwegian Public Roads Administration

2. SUSTAINABLE URBAN DRAINAGE SYSTEMS (SUDS)
SUDS provide multiple ecosystem services
To which extent can these systems support biodiversity?

3. AIM AND OBJECTIVES
Develop solutions to promote aquatic biodiversity in constructed ponds and wetlands
Identify factors that influence aquatic biodiversity
Develop a model to simulate the influence of different factors
Implement the model to design biodiversity-promoting stormwater systems

4. RESEARCH QUESTIONS Which factors affect aquatic biodiversity?
Water quality parameters?
Chemical pollutants, e.g. metals, organic pollutants
pH, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, etc.
Physical parameters?
Size, age of ponds, average annual daily traffic, plant cover
Which factors have the greatest influence?

5. STUDY AREA & DATA 12 ponds in Norway along E6
macroinvertebrate taxa (115 taxa)
32 water quality parameters
5 physical parameters
plant cover

6. METHODS Unconstrained analysis Principal component analysis (PCA)
Redundancy analysis (RDA)
RDA with forward selection
Mann-Whitney U-test

7. Principal components analysis (PCA) for water quality parameters
RESULTS
Principal components analysis (PCA) for water quality parameters
PCA1 (M)
PCA1 (C)
PCA1 (O) P
TOC pH DO
Component 1: 43%
Component 2: 17%

8. RESULTS
Redundancy analysis (RDA) ordination diagram of macroinvertebrate taxa in relation to the water quality parameters
Explanatory variables: 30%
Component 1: 15%
Component 2: 7%
p<0.05

9. RESULTS
Redundancy analysis (RDA) ordination diagram of macroinvertebrate taxa in relation to the physical parameters
Explanatory variables: 28%
Component 1: 15%
Component 2: 4%
p<0.05

10. RESULTS
RDA with forward selection ordination diagram of macroinvertebrate taxa in relation to the chemical and physical parameters
Name
Explains %
PCA1(M) 40
PCA1(C) P
Size 26
Component 1: 18%
Component 2: 7%
p<0.05

11. CONCLUSIONS Most important water quality parameters:
metals – most species are negatively correlated
chloride
phosphorus
Most important physical parameter:
size of ponds – most species are positively correlated
Road vs. agricultural runoff basins – no sign. difference

12. PERSPECTIVES Analyse other factors, e.g. hydroperiod
Use advanced taxonomic method – DNA barcoding
Implement process-based model
Provide comprehensive understanding of variables
Provide design recommendations for future road projects