Last update - 02:34 06/03/2007
Herzliya's hidden wildlife wealth
By Zafrir Rinat
The coastal plain used to be full of winter ponds that would fill with rainwater and dry up in the summer. After years of construction and agricultural use, most have disappeared, and only three large winter ponds remain in Israel.
One is in western Herzliya, and the municipality is seeking to build a park in its place. Part of the area does indeed suffer from neglect and disuse, but a careful survey found it is a hidden trove of flora and fauna that may disappear along with the pond.
Last year, Herzliya's environmental affairs department conducted a comprehensive survey of the pond to see how it could be preserved after the construction of the park. The survey, conducted with the assistance of the local Green Party branch, was coordinated by Prof. Avital Gazit of Tel Aviv University's life sciences department. The pond became a pilgrimage site for Tel Aviv and Hebrew University researchers, who published their findings a few months ago.
The researchers discovered many species of crabs unique to winter ponds, including several that are now rare in Israel. One species, the tadpole shrimp (Lepidurus apus), is unique in that its females lay eggs without mating.
The pond is also a magnet for many species of birds: 64 species were observed there, including assorted ducks, magpies and the greater spotted eagle (Aquila clanga). Assaf Meroz of the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel's bird observatory says the pond affords an impressive bird-watching experience.
The area also has a wealth of flora. The manager of Hebrew University's Herbarium, Hagar Leschner, identified some 130 types of wild grass and aquatic weeds near the pond. At least a third of them are considered rare or very rare. One, the monarch redstem (Ammannia baccifera) grows in mud flats and can be found at only three locations in Israel. Another rare species, which checkers the pond with purple patches, is one of the three types of mint that grow in Israel. The Herzliya pond is also the southernmost point where the flowering rush (Butomus umbellatus) grows.
Because the pond dries up in the summer, the flora and fauna there have developed ways to survive the dry season. Several plants send roots deep into the ground to find water, and some eggs spend the summer dormant underground. The crabs' eggs are durable enough to protect them from the arid summer, and they hatch when the pond fills with water.
The researchers note that the pond suffers from serious neglect, and is used as a dumping site. They recommend fencing in part of the area to protect it while the park is being constructed, and relocating rare plants that may be harmed during the work. They also suggest enabling visitors to observe birds from hidden nooks while leaving other areas inaccessible and protected.