2026-03-24 トロント大学（U of T）
Stormwater ponds such as this one in Brampton, Ont., are designed to prevent flooding and protect local waterways, but have become home to bird species and other wildlife (photo by Kaylie Borntraeger)
＜関連情報＞
- https://www.utoronto.ca/news/urban-stormwater-ponds-support-rich-bird-life-u-t-study
- https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11252-026-01912-w
都市部の雨水調整池における鳥類の多様性：時間的変動と生息地との関連性 Bird diversity at urban stormwater ponds: Temporal variation and habitat associations
Kaylie N. Borntraeger & Donald A. Jackson
Urban Ecosystems Published:19 February 2026
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/s11252-026-01912-w
Abstract
Stormwater ponds (SWPs) are engineered structures designed to reduce flooding and improve water quality in local stream systems. Such ponds can provide novel habitats in urbanized regions where many natural aquatic habitats have been lost. Bird species not breeding in southern Ontario may use SWPs as temporary ‘stop-over points’ for rest and feeding, whereas resident birds that breed in the area may stay for longer because SWPs offer patches of aquatic habitat in an otherwise urbanized matrix. The variability in design and habitat quality among SWPs makes the impact of environmental characteristics on bird communities important, but relatively unstudied. We used passive acoustic monitoring to sample 16 SWPs in Brampton, Ontario, Canada from April–July 2024 to identify bird species occurrence among ponds and over time. We analyzed bird community data with principal coordinate analysis to assess spatial and temporal patterns and tested relationships with habitat characteristics through redundancy analysis. In total, 145 species of birds were identified, including 9 federally listed species at risk. Sampling periods showed significant differences in composition due to changing representation of resident versus migratory species. Local vegetation characteristics, specifically cattails, submerged vegetation and trees, were significant predictors of bird communities. This study shows the importance of SWPs as habitats for migratory and resident birds and that these engineered aquatic environments have the potential to provide important habitat in heavily urbanized environments where natural aquatic environments may have been lost.
