Mediterranean temporary ponds. A disappearing ecosystem

Zacharias, Ierotheos; Zamparas, Miltiadis

doi:10.1007/s10531-010-9933-7

Cited by 122 publications

(79 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…They are of great conservation importance because they harbor a large part of the aquatic biodiversity at the landscape scale, and are home to rare and endangered species [1,19,52]. Climate change, together with impacts by urbanization and agriculture are threatening these habitats at the global scale [52].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Protection Level in the Hydroperiod of Water Bodies on Doñana’s Aeolian Sands

2016

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Mediterranean temporary ponds on Doñana's aeolian sands form an extensive system of small dynamic water bodies, dependent on precipitation and groundwater, of considerable importance for biodiversity conservation. Different areas of the aeolian sands have received different levels of environmental protection since 1969, and this has influenced the degree of conservation and the flooding dynamic of these temporary surface waters. We use the Landsat series of satellite images from 1985 to 2014 to study the temporal dynamic of small temporary water bodies on the aeolian sands in relation to the protection level and to distance to water abstraction pressures from agriculture and residential areas. The results show that even with small and ephemeral water bodies optical remote sensing time-series are an effective way to study their flooding temporal dynamics. The protected areas of the aeolian sands hold a better preserved system of temporary ponds, with a flooding dynamic that fluctuates with precipitation. The unprotected area shows an increase in mean hydroperiod duration, and surface flooded, and a decline in hydroperiod variability. This seems to be due to the creation of irrigation ponds and the artificialization of the flooding regime of the natural temporary ponds, that either receive excess irrigation water or dry-up due to the lowering of the groundwater table level. Although a decline in hydroperiod duration of temporary ponds is seen as negative to the system, an increase in hydroperiod of surface waters due to artificialization, or a decline in variability cannot be considered as positive compensatory effects.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Protection Level in the Hydroperiod of Water Bodies on Doñana’s Aeolian Sands

2016

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“…Habitats of this type, typical elements in the natural and traditional agricultural landscapes around the Mediterranean, were in sharp decline during the last few decades, and their rate of extinction was dramatic due to reclamation, groundwater management, transformation of natural pools into water reservoirs, and changes in precipitation frequency and intensity (Zacharias & Zamparas 2010;Céréghino et al 2014). Consequently, the water mite fauna described herein, including the numerous species documented for the first time from the Mediterranean islands, must be considered at high risk of extinction at a population level: it is not the species as a whole which is endangered, but its genetic diversity, which is expressed by the presence of isolated local populations on the investigated islands.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The water mites (Acari: Hydrachnidia) of the standing waters of Corsica, Sardinia and Sicily: review and new data

Gerecke

Marrone

Sorgi

et al. 2014

Italian Journal of Zoology

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A compilation of our present knowledge of the water mites (Acari: Hydrachnidia) adapted to life in standing waters on the three large islands in the western Mediterranean (Corsica, Sardinia and Sicily) is provided. In addition to published data, this study deals with a rich volume of new material from recent field work, mostly deriving from intermittent ponds and pools, an extremely poorly investigated yet peculiar habitat type in the Mediterranean area. Species richness of water mites reported for the standing waters of the three islands amounts to 91 species. Out of the 47 species for which we present new distributional data, Hydrachna incisa Halbert, 1903, Hydrachna leegei Koenike, 1895, Piersigia limophila Protz, 1896, Hydryphantes crassipalpis Koenike, 1914 and Piona laminata (Thor, 1900) have not been recorded previously from the Mediterranean area. Most of these species were believed to have typical North European distributions. In addition to these, a further 13 species are recorded for the first time from the area covered. In total, 11 species are new for Italy, seven more are new for Sicily, three for Sardinia and seven for Corsica. Redescriptions are given of Axonopsis complanata (Müller, 1776) (A. graeca, nov. syn), Brachypoda baderi (reported for the first time after the original description from Abruzzo, Italy, synonymization with B. mutila rejected) and B. mutila (recorded for the first time outside Algeria with certainty). For each species, information is given on habitat preference and geographical distribution; the significance of the data is discussed under perspectives of zoogeography and nature protection. The completeness of our knowledge for the three investigated island is assessed using rarefaction curves and non-parametric estimators of species richness; while Sicily can be considered fairly well known, Corsica and Sardinia require further sampling to assess their water mite diversity.

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“…If 74 they persist until mid-summer for an adequate period, special vegetation dominated by 75 amphibious plant communities will develop. Searing in summer eliminate more common 76 aquatic plants and helophyte communities, which are characteristic elements of more 77 permanent waters (Zacharias and Zamparas, 2010). CTPs are likely to appear in the former 78 floodplain of rivers, which are cut from direct floods due to river regulation, but situated in 79 lower reliefs.…”

Section: Continental Temporary Pools (Ctp) 70mentioning

confidence: 99%

Plant diversity and conservation value of continental temporary pools

Lukács

Sramkó

Molnár

2013

Biological Conservation

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18Temporary pools are unusual habitats, neither truly aquatic nor truly terrestrial. They are 19 habitats of community interests according to the Natura 2000 network (Natura code: 3130 and 20 3170), and can found in several climatic regions where they harbours various wetland habitats. 21Whereas Mediterranean temporary pools are well studied, only a few papers deal with their 22 continental counterparts because they are mainly found on arable fields often after decades-23 lasting dormancy. This study aims to define the diversity of temporary pools in continental 24

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Mediterranean temporary ponds. A disappearing ecosystem

Cited by 122 publications

References 39 publications

Effect of Protection Level in the Hydroperiod of Water Bodies on Doñana’s Aeolian Sands

Effect of Protection Level in the Hydroperiod of Water Bodies on Doñana’s Aeolian Sands

The water mites (Acari: Hydrachnidia) of the standing waters of Corsica, Sardinia and Sicily: review and new data

Plant diversity and conservation value of continental temporary pools

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