aquatic biomonitoring
Aquatic Biomonitoring
How healthy are our lakes and ponds?
We have established a monitoring programme at a lake or pond in each of the nine OPAL regions.
As part of the Aquatic Biomonitoring project we are visiting each site every three months to undertake the following analysis
- Physical: water clarity, temperature, conductivity, oxygen profiles
- Chemical: major ions, nutrients
- Biological: zooplankton, phytoplankton, diatoms
We are conducting annual surveys of aquatic plants and invertebrates to find out what is there and to notice any changes from year to year.
This work will lead towards a full assessment of key water quality indicators which local communities can continue to monitor beyond the OPAL project.
Monitoring partners
Pond Conservation
Buglife
British Phycological Society
Riverfly Partnership
Sediment sampling
As sediment (mud) accumulates at the bottom of lakes it stores a record of change within the lake over time. By taking a deep narrow column of this mud, known as a sediment core, we can look back at the history of the lake and assess how pollution inputs have changed over time. This will also help people appreciate how quickly water quality and ecology can degrade and improve.
See all the results so far
All the data and observations from this project can be found on our regularly updated results page.
Interested in our work? Want to get involved?
We are working with a number of local and national groups and societies.
Out on the lakes with the OPAL Water team
What's it like being a water scientist? Follow Dr Simon Turner as he samples nine lakes across the country.
Contact us
n.rose@geog.ucl.ac.uk
The Aquatic Biomonitoring project is led by University College London
OPAL Water
Help monitor and protect our lakes and ponds
We want everyone to become interested in the aquatic world, and have the skills to observe changes in water quality through the identification of key plants and animals.
Protecting a nature oasis
Ponds and pools are often the focus of a local community as they are frequently located in shared spaces such as parks and recreation areas. They can be oases of biodiversity in otherwise ecologically poor locations and are important for both human and environmental wellbeing.
However, these freshwater environments are often struggling with problems such as water pollution and nutrient enrichment, and may also be poorly managed.
We are leading two OPAL Water projects to learn more about the lakes and ponds in England and to help in their conservation.
OPAL Water projects
OPAL Water research news and Simon's fieldwork diary
The lakes and ponds we are monitoring
 |
East of England: East Midlands: London: North East: North West: South East: South West: West Midlands: Yorkshire and Humber: |
Holt Hall Lake, Holt Thoresby Lake, near Mansfield Wake Valley Pond, Epping Forest Crag Lough, near Haltwhistle Marton Mere, Blackpool Fleet Pond, Fleet Slapton Ley, Slapton Edgbaston Pool, Birmingham Chapman's Pond, York |
Water survey - join in now!
How healthy is your local pond? The animals living in the water will help you find out.
Join in the OPAL water survey and help scientists learn more about the health of our ponds and lakes.
Take part in the OPAL metals survey
Help OPAL Water scientists research metal contamination in lakes and ponds.
Research results
See all the results so far from our lake monitoring research.
Partner organisations
We work with a number of organisations across the country to help with our research. You can also get involved with their work. They are always keen to welcome new members.
Policy and regulation
If you are interested in learning more about government policy on water quality then please visit:
For Scotland please visit:
For Wales please visit:
For Northern Ireland please visit:
Contact us
opalwatercentre@geog.ucl.ac.uk
OPAL Water is led by University College London