Can golf courses provide good habitat?

A new study has found that golf course ponds can provide valuable habitat for wetland fauna in an otherwise urbanized setting. The unexpected results caught researchers by suprise.

Scientists from Sweden surveyed amphibian and macroinvertebrate species in ponds located on golf courses and in nearby residential parks and nature-protected areas in Greater Stockholm. They were testing the hypothesis that heavy application of chemicals on golf courses would negatively impact species richness and abundance compared to ponds in parks and natural areas where fertilizer and herbicide use is prohibited.

White-faced darter dragonfly. Image credit, Christian Fisher.The researchers recorded a total of 71 macroinvertebrate and 5 amphibian species in the study. Among the macroinvertebrates, they found no significant difference between golf course ponds and off-course ponds at any level. This included large white-faced darter dragonfly (Leucorrhinia pectoralis), an internationally red-listed species. Among amphibians, the researchers found differences with some species more common in golf course ponds and some not. Species more common on golf courses included the internationally listed great crested newt (Triturus cristatus).

Study Conclusions... Based on these results, the authors drew the following conclusions:

1) The use of chemical applications on golf courses in central greater Stockholm does not seem to have a negative effect on the species examined.

2) Golf course pond management seems to benefit certain wetland fauna. Golf courses in Sweden are maintained to prevent natural succession from reaching the stage where water bodies become overgrown and ultimately drained. A number of species surveyed in the golf courses benefited from this type of management. Nevertheless the researchers recommend that seasonal wetlands also be maintained on golf courses to optimize habitat for other species.

3) Golf courses seem to provide suitable terrestrial habitat for wetland fauna.

4) Golf courses located in urban areas have the potential to provide important habitat for declining groups of wetland fauna. In the case of greater Stockholm, golf courses provide over a quarter of all permanent freshwater ponds.

The authors recommend that ecologists cooperate more closely with urban planners, ecosystem managers, and golf course designers so that golf courses can more fully support conservation objectives.

Source:	Ecological Applications
Title:	Golf courses and wetland fauna
Authors:	a, b) Johan Colding, b) Jakob Lundberg, c) Stefan Lundberg, and d) Erik Andersson
	a) Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences b) Stockholm University c) The Swedish Museum of Natural History d) Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

Comments

[Joanne L]

It is nice to know that golf can do more than spoil a good walk.