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Panty-llyn-the first Welsh turlough?

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... Turloughs are almost unique to Ireland with one other turlough occurring in Wales (Campbell et al., 1992). However, similar wetland systems are thought to occur elsewhere where rainfall patterns, rock type and hydrological conditions are suitable e.g. ...
... Turloughs are thought to be unique to Ireland, apart from one site in Wales (Campbell et al., 1992). They are important habitats for wetland birds, wetland plant communities and rare and threatened species of invertebrates Reynolds, 1992;Reynolds et al., 1998;. ...
... Older definitions of turloughs (Coxon, 1986;Sheehy Skeffington et al., 2006) described them as being virtually unique to western Ireland. However, similar features have also been described in Slovenia (Sheehy Skeffington and Scott, 2008) and the United Kingdom (Campbell et al., 1992) requiring a redefinition of the term. Sheehy Skeffington and Scott (2008) define turloughs as 'depressions entirely within and on karst limestone, annually inundated mostly by groundwater via estavelles and springs and, in their natural state, supporting vegetation and/or soils indicative of the prevalence of wetland conditions over at least part of the year' (p. ...
Article
The term glaciokarst describes a landscape where both glacial and karstic processes have contributed to geomorphological evolution and has been applied to a range of environments from the high arctic to the alpine Mediterranean. Nevertheless, glaciokarstic environments globally often exhibit significant variation in geomorphological processes and landforms due to these geographical differences. The Burren, County Clare, Republic of Ireland, is often quoted as a quintessential glaciokarstic landscape. However, the Burren and other similar environments would appear to lean towards one end of the glaciokarst spectrum, where solutional and biological processes have been dominant throughout the Holocene, in contrast to ice‐dominated glaciokarsts where karstic and biokarstic processes are temperature‐limited and cryospheric processes remain the principal geomorphological agents. Holocene landscape evolution and the development of a range of meso‐, micro‐ and nano‐scale karren features on limestone surfaces appears to be largely biokarstic in origin. Karstification of many glacially scoured limestone pavements would have begun under acidic soil cover, with biological soil processes contributing to smooth, rounded cryptokarstic surface forms. Holocene soil erosion is attributed to anthropogenic activity, climatic fluctuations and the evolution of the karstic groundwater system leading to vertical soil loss through widening grikes. Exposed limestone pavements subject to subaerial conditions often exhibit extensive lichen colonization which has been shown to influence the overall rate of karstification and contribute to the development of micro‐ and meso‐scale bioweathering features. Where cryptokarstic features have been exhumed from beneath soil cover, their evolution under subaerial conditions leads to intermediate, polygenetic karren features. In light of our current understanding of the Burren landscape, it is proposed that the term glaciobiokarstic may be a better expression to encompass the biological processes that have played a fundamental role in the evolution of the Burren and similar landscapes, without neglecting the contribution of glacial and inorganic karstic processes. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
... Temporary habitats that support unique dytiscid species include turloughs, i.e., karst, seasonal, shallow lakes, some of which with a permanent pond in the center, with a highly restricted global distribution, occurring almost exclusively found in the west of Ireland (Campbell et al. 1992 ;Skeffi ngton et al. 2006 ). These 'disappearing' lakes are characterized by a unique hydrology regulated by estavelles (holes and fi ssures that act both as springs) via which a turlough becomes fl ooded, as well as swallow holes in the spring, although the water level may raise in response to high precipitation (Skeffi ngton et al. 2006 ). ...
Chapter
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Predaceous diving beetles (Dytiscidae) are a highly speciose group of insects occurring in a large variety of habitat types, where they typically form multispecies assemblages, due to their high diversity and large variation in the degree of habitat specificity. This chapter provides an overview of the characteristics of the main habitats where dytiscid species occur and summarizes the findings of previous studies aimed at characterizing the contribution of various abiotic habitat conditions in determining patterns of dytiscid species distribution, including water flow, permanency, salinity, acidity, temperature, and habitat size. Emphasis is given to the description of various lentic and lotic habitats, and springs, along gradients of habitat permanency. Given increasing evidence of the importance of biotic interactions in determining the realized niche of many dytiscid species, this review describes briefly the role of predation, food sources, and inter- and intraspecific competition as major habitat selection factors for certain dytiscid species. The significance of the structure of the vegetation as a major habitat factor determining patterns in dytiscid species distribution is discussed and new insights on plant-dytiscid relationships are provided. Some of the issues associated with developing simple habitat classifications for dytiscid species are discussed. The main characteristics of some unique habitats where dytiscids form unique assemblages, such as groundwater and interstitial habitats, rock pools, hygropetric habitats, and phytotelmata are described.
... Pant-y-Llyn was officially recognised as a turlough by Campbell et al. (1992). Subsequent investigations, most notably by the former Limestone Research Group (LRG) at the University of Huddersfield were undertaken in 1998, 2005and 2006(CCW, 1998, LRG, 2007. ...
Technical Report
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Pant-y Llyn is Wales’ and Britain’s only recorded Turlough. It is a key feature of Cernydd Carmel SSSI and SAC and a groundwater dependent terrestrial ecosystem (GWDTE) that has been identified as being at risk of significant damage from enriched groundwater input. This investigation is a collaborative project between hydrogeologists from Environment Agency Wales (EAW) and ecologists from the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW). The investigation was undertaken to fulfil requirements detailed by CCW in their Special Sites Actions Database, which is a list of actions required to bring protected sites (SACs and SSSIs) into favourable status. The main aims of the investigation are to: · Improve our conceptual and hydrological understanding of the site in the context of the hydrogeology of the surrounding area; · Review the water chemistry of Pant-y-Llyn and the surrounding groundwater, identifying any potential nutrient issues; · Incorporate recent data for water quality and quantity into CCW core management plan and objectives; Using continuous monitoring equipment, the hydrology of the site has been measured. Due to instrument security issues the hydrology of the bottom 1.5m of the turlough could not be recorded. We have also compiled all relevant water quality data for the site. In 2005 CCW assessed Pant-y-Llyn as in “unfavourable – unclassified” condition, based on limited water quality data. The Habitats Directive requires all SAC designated sites to be in favourable condition by 2015. Here we update the 2005 condition assessment with detailed hydrological data and much improved water quality data. There is a clear relationship between rainfall, groundwater levels and water level fluctuations within Pant-y-Llyn. The maximum fill level is just over 3m depth above the estavelle. Water level peaks lagged by between 1 and 8 days behind heavy rainfall events. Recharge is more rapid during wetter months where the water table is higher. The empty and filling cycle of Pant-y-Llyn is also reflected in the distribution and type of vegetation. Previous tracer data suggests that the groundwater supply comes from a fault-bounded karstic limestone block catchment within the immediate vicinity of Pant-y-Llyn rather than the main karst system. However groundwater hydrographs within the Glanwenlais karst area are very similar to water levels at Pant-y-Llyn. Further detailed work is recommended to define a better groundwater catchment for the turlough, so that future management decisions can be taken from the best possible knowledge base. A hydrological model capable of predicting water level from rainfall and evapotranspiration records was developed for Pant-y-Llyn. The hydrological response of the turlough, represented as a reservoir within the model, was controlled by inflow and outflow relationships derived from analysis of the turlough water budget. Long-term modelling of Pant-y-Llyn water levels highlighted the control the man-made overflow pipe exerts on the hydrological regime of the turlough. The hydrological behaviour of Pant-y-Llyn was compared with that of recorded Irish turloughs. This found that Pant-y-Llyn was a relatively small, shallow turlough that lay towards the end of the turlough flooding continuum characterised by uni-modal, long-duration flooding. Water chemistry at Pant-y-Llyn is typical of a high alkalinity system. The water in Pant-y-Llyn is less mineralised than groundwater in the area, reflecting surface water or rapid groundwater inputs. The importance of the surface water catchment should be considered. The most significant water quality risk within the surface water catchment is the adjacent road which may contribute surface water drainage. Nutrient levels at Pant-y-Llyn are low, but there are unexplained spikes in nutrients and chlorophyll that require further investigation in combination with water level and / or rainfall data. The site was phosphate limited on all sampling occasions. Based on the revised dataset we have proposed revised water chemistry targets for the turlough. Current biological monitoring is inadequate and both invertebrate and vegetation surveys are required. Hydrologically, Pant-y-Llyn is considered to be meeting existing performance indicators for emptying and filling. Water chemistry gives some cause for concern but further monitoring is required to establish whether episodic poor water quality is linked to pollution or to natural variation. There are no concerns with regard to vegetation zonation although current data is limited to aerial photography. Based on the above we conclude that Pant-y-Llyn turlough is in favourable condition, with low confidence. There are several risk factors that might affect the long-term viability of the site including a resumption of quarrying and its effects on hydrology; the effects of road drainage; scrub invasion; pollution of groundwater from domestic sewage treatment, and climate change.
... Turloughs are almost unique to Ireland (there is one in Wales - Campbell et al. 1992) and have priority status under the Habitats Directive (EEC 1992). A total of 71 turloughs have SAC status and nine of these are also SPAs, as many turloughs are important winter feeding habitats for wildfowl that benefit from the full vegetation cover under the shallow water (Ruttledge 1989;Cabot 1999;Sheehy Skeffington et al., 2006). ...
Chapter
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Turloughs are seasonally flooded karst wetlands in Ireland and as priority habitats under the EU Habitats Directive, many have been designated as Special Areas of Conservation. They flood usually in winter, mostly through swallow holes, or estavelles, that open to the underlying limestone, but they may fill at any time of year if rainfall is excessive. Almost all of them occur on well-bedded pure Carboniferous limestone. Since the shallow basins of turloughs are usually covered in vegetation, unlike more permanent water bodies, they are excellent feeding areas for over-wintering wildfowl, such as ducks, geese and swans, hosting numbers of international importance. Turloughs are almost all grazed by domestic livestock in the summer months and they support relatively low-intensity farming due to their marginal nature and inaccessibility for much of the year. The vegetation depends to a large extent on the flooding regime and on soil type, usually comprising small-sedge communities or grass-dominated swards. The type of management varies considerably, not only between, but within turloughs. This gives rise to a diversity of sward composition and structure that increases both plant and invertebrate diversity. Whereas drainage was a large threat to turlough conservation in the past, eutrophication of flood waters is gaining in importance. However, the single greatest threat to turlough biodiversity in the future may be the cessation of farming within their basins. Turloughs are an integral part of the Irish cultural landscape and so it is important to develop a strategy for turlough conservation that involves the land-owners and takes into account local socio-economic factors as well as the conservation of their biodiversity.
... Turloughs are ephemeral wetlands practically unique to the karstic limestone of the west of Ireland (one is described for Wales (Campbell et al. 1992) and several have recently been described in Slovenia as distinct from the poljes (Sheehy Skeffington and Scott 2008)). Under the EU Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) (EC 2000) they are listed as groundwater-dependent terrestrial ecosystem (GWDTE), and they are a priority habitat under the EU Habitats Directive (92/43/ EEC) due to their restricted distribution (EEC 1992 ). Hydrology, vegetation and aquatic/terrestrial invertebrates have been studied in some detail, as reviewed by Sheehy, and recent papers by Moran et al. (2008a; 2008b) have dealt with the relationship between plant communities and the hydrological regime at Skealoghan turlough, the location of the present study. ...
Article
Turloughs are temporary wetlands almost unique to the west of Ireland. A transect of six vegetation zones across a well-studied turlough in County Mayo was investigated. At each station along the transect, the relative frequency of vascular plants was recorded and environmental variables (soil pH, soil moisture, soil loss-on-ignition) and plant tissue concentrations of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) were measured. The aim was to test whether Ellenberg indices (weighted by community composition and recently corrected for use in the British Isles) are effective as surrogates of environmental variables on turloughs. Results indicated that each vegetation zone formed a distinct vascular plant community and suggest that the Ellenberg F index is indeed a good model for hydrological variables, but more work is needed before the Ellenberg N and R indices can be accepted as dependable surrogates for relevant environmental variables on turloughs.
... However, on a recent visit to Slovenia, two of the authors visited much smaller wetlands that appeared to be more like turloughs. Reynolds et al. (1998) refer to the lacs mystérieux in Eastern Canada and a seasonal water body in karstic Catalonia, but affirm that only in Wales is there a hydrological feature similar to Irish turloughs at Pant-y-llyn (see Campbell et al., 1992;Blackstock et al., 1993). ...
Article
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Turloughs are karst wetland ecosystems that are virtually unique to Ireland. Flooding annually in autumn through springs and fissures in the underlying limestone and draining in the springtime, often through the same fissures or swallow-holes, they have been described as ‘temporal ecotones’. Over 300 have been documented. They are priority habitats in the EU Habitats Directive and support a variety of wet grassland and fen type vegetation. Though the vegetation has been recorded and mapped for over 80 turloughs, records for invertebrates are more sporadic. Characteristic species include some aquatic species-often benefiting from the absence of fish-, and many wetland terrestrial species, including carabid beetles that are rare on a European scale. Due to their shallow nature and the full vegetation cover of the basin, turloughs can host internationally significant numbers of visiting winter wildfowl, particularly whooper swans. The variety of plant and invertebrate communities between turloughs is primarily due to different hydrogeomorphological characteristics, but also depends on the range of grazing practices on turloughs. Since these often vary within a turlough basin, this helps maintain within-turlough biodiversity. The main threat to turloughs in the past was drainage, but pollution by nutrients is also now potentially detrimental. However, a more recent and important threat may be the cessation of farming within turloughs. As potentially threatened wetlands of European importance, turloughs require a full inventory of their biodiversity and the factors affecting it. The collation here of all literature concerning turloughs will provide a basis for an integrated approach to future research on turloughs that is essential for a full understanding of these complex ecosystems.
Chapter
Predaceous diving beetles (Dytiscidae) are a highly speciose group of insects occurring in a large variety of habitat types, where they often form multispecies assemblages, due to their high diversity and large variation in the degree of habitat specificity. While most species have broad habitat preferences, some are specialized for life under extreme habitat conditions. In this chapter, we provide an overview of the main habitats in which dytiscids occur and summarize some of the habitat variables that contribute most to shaping the distribution of dytiscids across habitats and landscapes. These include a range of abiotic conditions and plant–beetle relationships, which act as major habitat selection factors. We discuss how a variety of habitats in agricultural and urban landscapes can contribute to maintain high dytiscid diversity. We then describe some of the most peculiar habitats where dytiscids occur, including phytotelmata, subterranean and interstitial habitats, rock pools, and terrestrial habitats. Over the past couple of decades, examination of habitats that had been typically underexplored for dytiscids has led to the discovery of new species and even new genera. These studies suggest that further exploration of these habitats and the increasing availability of phylogenetic data will provide important insights into the ecology and evolutionary history of species colonizing extreme habitats. This is in turn critical to improve our understanding of the vulnerability of dytiscids to global environmental changes associated with changes in habitat characteristics and availability.
Article
Tephrochronology and especially crypto-tephrochronology is an established chronological technique employed in a range of depositional environments in Europe and beyond. During the late Quaternary, Icelandic cryptotephra deposits are widely found in palaeorecords across northern latitudes of Europe e.g. Scotland, Ireland, Norway, Sweden and the Faroe Islands but are sporadic in southerly latitudes as distance from Iceland increases. As yet, very few Icelandic cryptotephras have been identified in Wales or southern England which may well reflect the geographical limit of Icelandic tephra distribution. Here, however, we report the discovery of an Icelandic cryptotephra deposit within a sediment sequence retrieved from the Pant-y-Llyn turlough (Carmarthenshire, south Wales), the only known turlough in Britain. Turloughs are groundwater-fed ephemeral lakes associated with limestone bedrock and can accumulate sediments that may yield records suitable for palaeoreconstructions. A discrete peak of glass shards originating from the Askja-S eruption is identified in the sediment record. This discovery extends the distribution of this early Holocene eruption giving new insight into its dispersal patterns and also indicates that sedimentary sequences from sites in these more southerly latitudes are valuable repositories for ash preservation. Furthermore, its discovery within a carbonate-rich sequence provides a minimum age constraint on the timing of sediment accumulation and provides an alternative tool for what is typically a problematic dating environment.
Chapter
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Turloughs (’dry lakes’) are groundwater-dependent terrestrial ecosystems occurring mostly in western Ireland overlying karstified limestone. In the temperate oceanic climate they may fill and empty at any time of year, but aquatic phases lasting several weeks to months occur chiefly in cool seasons. The short cool hydroperiod makes turlough fauna distinctive, short-lived or with resistant resting stages; predators are scarce, allowing survival of large cladocerans such as Eurycercus glacialis. The terrestrial phases may have residual pools or marsh, and gradually revegetate; some insect larvae survive submergence and carabids and other predators invade. Main threats to these unusual habitats are from drainage and most impacts are from summer grazing.
Article
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Turloughs are karst basins that fill seasonally with mostly groundwater and drain, usually in summer, to reveal a sedge or grassland community. They are often described as being virtually unique to Ireland. The much larger seasonal poljes of the Slovenian karst are considered different to turloughs. However, a series of small temporary karst lakes in the Slovenian Pivka valley seem remarkably similar to Irish turloughs. Like turloughs, they fill and empty largely through estavelles connecting to underground water systems, which rise and fall with high seasonal rainfall. The Slovenian sites, however, support less wetland communities than Irish turloughs, probably due to drier summer conditions. The plant communities of both systems occur in zones around the basin, related to flood duration. Relevés taken at five Slovenian sites revealed that Petelinjsko jezero, which floods longest each year, is the most similar to turloughs, with, in the lower basin, Eleocharis palustris, potentilla reptans and the unusual form of Ranuculus repens commonly found in Irish turloughs. The difference in climate and terrain means that the Slovenian sites are managed for hay or silage, while the Irish turloughs are under pasture. However, for both, regular flooding precludes much agricultural improvement, so that they are now refuges for flora and fauna. A revised definition for turloughs is proposed and a case made for these Slovenian wetland systems to be recognised as turloughs and for the EU Habitats Directive to be amended to include poljes and other similar temporary karst wetland systems as well as turloughs.
Article
Temporary waters are found throughout the world, including intermittent streams and ponds, episodic rain puddles, seasonal limestone lakes, and the water-retaining structures of plants, such as bromeliads and pitcher plants. They are populated by a variety of plant, animal, and microscopic communities ranging from the very simple to the highly complex. As such, they represent fascinating and significant arenas to study the properties of species, as the latter deals with the rigours of living in highly variable environments. Obligate temporary water species display a remarkable array of adaptations to the periodic loss of their primary medium that largely sets them apart from the inhabitants of permanent water bodies. The survival of individuals frequently depends upon exceptional physiological tolerance or effective migrational abilities that are timed to appropriate habitat phases. However, apart from their inherent biological interest, temporary waters are now in the limelight from a conservation perspective as these habitats come more and more into conflict with human activities. Traditionally, many temporary waters - be they ponds, pools, streams, or wetlands - have been considered as 'wasted' areas of land, potentially convertible to agriculture once drained. In reality, they are natural features of the global landscape representing distinct and unique habitats for many species - some that are found nowhere else, others that reach their maximum abundance there. Temporary waters are also very important from a human health perspective, since they function as breeding places for the vectors of many disease organisms.
Article
Turloughs are a type of karst wetland found extensively in western Ireland. Turloughs have a dynamic flooding regime, are groundwater dependent and lack a surface outflow. The EU Habitats and Water Framework Directives provide the impetus for evaluating the impacts of nutrient pressures on this internationally protected habitat. Differences in hydrogeological settings are thought to be a key driver of nutrient variation among turloughs. An holistic assessment of turlough trophic conditions should include the terrestrial phase, and an improved understanding of turlough soil property spatial variation is necessary for informing attempts to link nutrient pressures and impacts on the terrestrial phase of the habitat. This study compared nutrient-related soil properties among two groups of turloughs situated in East Burren, Co. Clare, and Coole Garryland, Co. Galway. Each group is representative of a contrasting hydrogeological setting indicative of a trophic gradient. Soils within Coole Garryland turloughs are potentially more nutrient rich than East Burren turloughs owing to the larger zones of groundwater contribution with faster throughflow, greater levels of disturbance and more intense grazing pressures. Turloughs in East Burren had distinctly more alkaline and peaty soils than Coole Garryland, reflecting the relatively longer flood durations of the former. There was no clear distinction in soil total phosphorus, total nitrogen or desorbable phosphorus between East Burren and Coole Garryland. The soils of dry, more intensively grazed turloughs are apparently not more nutrient rich than wet, less intensively grazed turloughs. Variation in nutrient availability and inter-relationships of soil properties were examined along the flooding gradients of two turloughs representative of each hydrogeological setting, namely Garryland turlough and Cooloorta turlough. Elevated concentrations of available forms of N and P in the saturated lower zones of each turlough may be the result of anaerobic conditions or nutrient accumulation. High coefficients of variation reveal that available forms of N and P exhibit a high degree of spatial variation in turloughs. Consequently, the occurrence and distribution of vegetation communities and plant species indicative of different trophic conditions are likely to be more useful than soil nutrient assessments for assessing the impacts of nutrient pressures on turloughs. pH was identified as an important driver of P availability in turloughs. The negative association between available P and pH highlights the potentially significant influence of marl accumulation on turlough ecological functioning. Future turlough soil research should be cognisant of spatial variation along flooding gradients and should focus on N and P mineralisation studies of mineral, organic and calcareous soils to develop understanding of turlough nutrient cycling processes and retention capacities.
Article
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Irish turloughs are hydrologically dynamic karst wetlands that are frequently used as marginal grazing land. We hypothesised that flood duration (FD) is a key driver of the spatial distribution of selected soil properties, and consequently turlough grazing practices. Six soil samples were collected during dry periods from eighteen turloughs between 2006 and 2008. Samples (n = 104) were analysed for pH, organic matter (OM) content, calcium carbonate content (CaCO3), sand/silt/clay content (INORG), total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP). Data on flooding duration, flood frequency, grazing regime and vegetation type were collated for each soil sampling point. Multivariate and univariate statistical analyses were used to examine the relationships between soil properties, grazing regime and flooding variables. There was a positive association between CaCO3, FD and sedge-dominated communities, whereas INORG had a positive association with grazing and grassland. There was a strong positive association between TN, TP, OM and soil depth rather than FD, and OM was found to be an efficient predictor of TN. Extended FDs in ephemeral karst wetlands are likely to increase the extent and degree of calcium carbonate accumulation in soils, thus, reducing the grazing potential of land.
Article
UDC 551.432.5 (497.4) Micheline Shehy Skeffington & Nick. E. Scott: Do turloughs occur in Slovenia? Turloughs are karst basins that fill seasonally with mostly groundwater and drain, usually in summer, to reveal a sedge or grassland community. They are often described as being virtually unique to Ireland. The much larger seasonal poljes of the Slovenian karst are considered different to turloughs. However, a series of small temporary karst lakes in the Slove- nian Pivka valley seem remarkably similar to Irish turloughs. Like turloughs, they fill and empty largely through estavelles connecting to underground water systems, which rise and fall with high seasonal rainfall. The Slovenian sites, however, support less wetland communities than Irish turloughs, prob- ably due to drier summer conditions. The plant communities of both systems occur in zones around the basin, related to flood duration. Relevés taken at five Slovenian sites revealed that Petelinjsko jezero, which floods longest each year, is the most similar to turloughs, with, in the lower basin, Eleocharis palustris, potentilla reptans and the unusual form of Ranuculus repens commonly found in Irish turloughs. The difference in climate and terrain means that the Slovenian sites are managed for hay or silage, while the Irish turloughs are under pasture. However, for both, regular flooding precludes much agricul - tural improvement, so that they are now refuges for flora and fauna. A revised definition for turloughs is proposed and a case made for these Slovenian wetland systems to be recognised as turloughs and for the EU Habitats Directive to be amended to include poljes and other similar temporary karst wetland sys - tems as well as turloughs.
Article
Temporary waters have been relatively neglected in British nature conservation, due in part to paucity of survey and comparative assessment. Such water bodies hold distinctive and specialized biological communities, and the need for conservation measures at key localities is increasingly recognized in Europe. An account of the vegetation and invertebrate fauna in Pant‐y‐llyn, a small temporary lake on Carboniferous Limestone in South Wales, is presented. Water levels in the basin reflect seasonal variation in the height of the local groundwater, and it fills to a depth of ca 3–4 m in winter but is almost completely dry in summer. There is a clearly displayed sequence of bryophyte, herbaceous swamp and woody plant communities which occupy different depth zones in the basin. The invertebrate community is dominated by microcrustaceans and a range of insect groups; adaptations for survival over the summer dry phase are considered. It is concluded that the ecological characteristics and distinctive hydrological features of Pant‐y‐llyn closely resemble those of the Irish turloughs. Pant‐y‐llyn thus represents an important site for conservation as the only known example of this form of seasonal water body in Britain.
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