The ecological role of ponds in a changing world

Abstract

The fifth conference of the European Pond Conservation Network (Luxembourg, June 2012) brought together researchers, environmental managers, and other stakeholders with the aim to share stateof-the-art knowledge on the ecology, management, and conservation of ponds in the context of the many challenges facing the wider water environment. Although well-known ecological patterns apply to most ponds in Europe and elsewhere, recent data highlight that part of the environmental variables governing pond biodiversity remain specific to climatic/biogeographic regions and to elevation ranges, suggesting that, in addition to common practice, management plans should include range-specific measures. Beyond the contribution of individual ponds to the aquatic and terrestrial life, connected networks of ponds are vital in the provision of new climate space as a response to global climate change, by allowing the observed northward and/or upward movements of species. In terms of services, ponds offer sustainable solutions to key issues of water management and climate change such as nutrient retention, rainfall interception, or carbon sequestration. While the ecological role of ponds is now wellestablished, authoritative research-based advice remains needed to inform future direction in the conservation of small water bodies and to further bridge the gap between science and practice.

Abundance, biomass and community structure of pond phytoplankton related to the catchment characteristics

“…Phytoplankton-nutrient relationships are widely used by lake managers to asses eutrophication and set nutrient targets (Teissier et al, 2012), and phytoplankton can remove phosphorous and nitrogen pollutants from ponds (Céréghino et al, 2014). This is related with the following nutrient uptake resulting in negative correlations between algal species and N-NH 4 (Spirogyra sp., Pediastrum boryanum), conductivity (D. vulgaris, C. placentula) and P-PO 4 (F. delicatissima, F. ulna, Trachelomonas sp.…”

“…Ponds also create links between existing aquatic habitats and provide ecosystem services such as nutrient interception, hydrological regulation and natural scenery enrichment (Carvalho et al, 1995;Biggs et al, 2005;Lombardo, 2005;Gligora et al, 2007;Céréghino et al, 2008aCéréghino et al, ,b, 2014. Pond surface water quality is largely dependent on different land use in agriculture and village life and consequent catchment environments.…”

How do freshwater organisms cross the “dry ocean”? A review on passive dispersal and colonization processes with a special focus on temporary ponds

“…Moreover, temporary ponds, alternating flooded and dry phases, add the duration of their ponding phase as a further temporal dimension to their ''insular features'' (Ebert & Balko, 1987;NaselliFlores & Barone, 2012). In addition, these ecosystems provide important services in terms of aquatic biodiversity-conservation since they (i) supply recruits of (micro)organisms to permanent waters and eventually constitute ''reservoirs'' of biodiversity enhancing the success of restoration measures in aquatic ecosystems subject to high human impacts (Moustaka-Gouni et al, 2012), and (ii) favour the observed northward movement of species as a response to climate change (Céréghino et al, 2014). In spite of this, the number of temporary ponds has been drastically reduced in the last decades due to climate change, to the increased demand of land for agriculture and urban development, and to the overexploitation of water resources (e.g.…”

Ecological Drivers of Cladoceran Diversity in the Central European City (Łódź, Poland): Effects of Urbanisation and Size of the Waterbody

“…Whilst interest and research on pond biodiversity has increased more recently (Oertli et al, 2009;Céréghino et al, 2014), ephemeral and urban ponds remain some of the most poorly studied waterbodies scientifically. Ponds are common and abundant features in the urban landscape (there are estimated to be between 2.5 -3.5 million garden ponds in the United Kingdom (Davies et al, 2009b)), many have been anthropogenically built for a variety of purposes including; flood reduction, water treatment, public amenity and to promote urban biodiversity Briers, 2014;Hassall, 2014).…”

“…A common misconception is that ponds are ecologically unimportant because they are relatively small, common and abundant landscape features (Wood et al, 2003). Despite their small size, pond habitats contribute significantly (at a regional and local scale) to aquatic macroinvertebrate biodiversity Céréghino et al, 2014). The following section reviews the available literature on macroinvertebrate biodiversity associated with ponds located in a range of rural and urban landscapes.…”