Freising (dpa / lby) - Bavaria's carp ponds are an important habitat for numerous animal species. In addition to various species of fish, kingfishers, purple herons, little bitterns, moor frogs and darters use the waters and their surroundings as a biotope and retreat, said the Bavarian State Research Center for Agriculture (LfL) based in Freising on Tuesday.
Studies by the LfL have shown that 65 percent fewer dragonfly species and a total of 82 percent fewer individuals lived in regions of the Free State with few ponds than in the vicinity of the still, shallow waters. According to a statement from the state institute, the pond regions even performed significantly better than the ecologically valuable floodplains.
According to an LfL spokesman, the management of the ponds creates a variety of habitats, especially for birds, amphibians, dragonflies and rare fish and plant species. According to the LfL, there are around 40,000 carp ponds in Bavaria with a total area of around 20,000 hectares and 8,500 kilometers of shoreline. The Aischgrund in Central and Upper Franconia and the Upper Palatinate regions of Tirschenreuth and Schwandorf are considered the most important carp areas in the Free State.
