Journal ArticleDOI
The ecology of European ponds: defining the characteristics of a neglected freshwater habitat
TLDR
In this paper, the authors explore scientific problems to be solved in order to increase the understanding and the protection of ponds, to highlight those aspects of pond ecology that are relevant to freshwater science, and to bring out research areas which are likely to prove fruitful for further investigation.Abstract:
There is growing awareness in Europe of the importance of ponds, and increasing understanding of the contribution they make to aquatic biodiversity and catchment functions. Collectively, they support considerably more species, and specifically more scarce species, than other freshwater waterbody types. Ponds create links (or stepping stones) between existing aquatic habitats, but also provide ecosystem services such as nutrient interception, hydrological regulation, etc. In addition, ponds are powerful model systems for studies in ecology, evolutionary biology and conservation biology, and can be used as sentinel systems in the monitoring of global change. Ponds have begun to receive greater protection, particularly in the Mediterranean regions of Europe, as a result of the identification of Mediterranean temporary ponds as a priority in the EU Habitats Directive. Despite this, they remain excluded from the provisions of the Water Framework Directive, even though this is intended to ensure the good status of all waters. There is now a need to strengthen, develop and coordinate existing initiatives, and to build a common framework in order to establish a sound scientific and practical basis for pond conservation in Europe. The articles presented in this issue are intended to explore scientific problems to be solved in order to increase the understanding and the protection of ponds, to highlight those aspects of pond ecology that are relevant to freshwater science, and to bring out research areas which are likely to prove fruitful for further investigation.read more
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Journal ArticleDOI
The importance of small waterbodies for biodiversity and ecosystem services: implications for policy makers
TL;DR: In this article, the authors identify the priorities for research to underpin better protection of small waters and recommend policy actions needed to better integrate small waters into the management of catchments and landscapes, and identify reliable monitoring programs for small waters, develop effective measures to protect the biodiversity and ecosystem services they provide and ensure that regulators take full account of this critical part of the water environment.
Journal ArticleDOI
Environmental DNA surveillance for invertebrate species: advantages and technical limitations to detect invasive crayfish Procambarus clarkii in freshwater ponds.
Anne Tréguier,Anne Tréguier,Anne Tréguier,J.M. Paillisson,Tony Dejean,Alice Valentini,Martin A. Schlaepfer,Martin A. Schlaepfer,Jean-Marc Roussel,Jean-Marc Roussel +9 more
TL;DR: This work examines the reliability of using eDNA to detect the presence of an invasive freshwater crustacean species, the red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii, and develops a combination of environmental DNA (eDNA) and conventional trapping methods to monitor the invasion.
Journal ArticleDOI
The ecology and biodiversity of urban ponds
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors identify a range of research needs: (1) the roles of design and location of urban ponds in influencing biodiversity, (2) the function of urban wetlands for stormwater and pollution management, and (3) public perceptions of urban ecosystems and how those perceptions are influenced by interactions with natural systems.
Journal ArticleDOI
The ecological role of ponds in a changing world
TL;DR: While the ecological role of ponds is now well-established, 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.
Journal ArticleDOI
Wetland creation in agricultural landscapes : Biodiversity benefits on local and regional scales
Geraldine Thiere,Geraldine Thiere,Susanne Milenkovski,Susanne Milenkovski,Per-Eric Lindgren,Göran Sahlén,Olof Berglund,Stefan E. B. Weisner +7 more
TL;DR: Wetland creation aiming at a simultaneous increase in nutrient retention and species diversity in agricultural landscapes has recently become applied as a catchment-scale compensation measure for p... as discussed by the authors.
References
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Journal ArticleDOI
Comparative biodiversity of rivers, streams, ditches and ponds in an agricultural landscape in Southern England
Penny Williams,Mericia Whitfield,Jeremy Biggs,Simon Bray,Gill Fox,Pascale Nicolet,David Sear +6 more
TL;DR: In this article, the authors compared river, stream, ditch and pond biodiversity within an 80 km2 area of lowland British countryside and found that ponds contributed most to biodiversity, supporting considerably more species, more unique species and more scarce species than other waterbody types.
Journal ArticleDOI
Does size matter? The relationship between pond area and biodiversity
Beat Oertli,Dominique Auderset Joye,Emmanuel Castella,Raphaelle Juge,Diana Georgette Cambin,Jean-Bernard Lachavanne +5 more
TL;DR: It is shown that a set of ponds of small size has more species and has a higher conservation value than a single large pond of the same total area, and that large ponds harbour species missing in the smaller ponds.
Journal ArticleDOI
Ponds and pools as model systems in conservation biology, ecology and evolutionary biology
Luc De Meester,Steven Declerck,Robby Stoks,Gerald Louette,Frank Van de Meutter,Tom De Bie,Erik Michels,Luc Brendonck +7 more
TL;DR: It is argued that ponds and pools offer powerful potential for studies in ecology, evolutionary biology and conservation biology, and are good model systems for large-scale surveys and hypothesis testing through experimental manipulation.
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Small habitat size and isolation can promote species richness: second-order effects on biodiversity in shallow lakes and ponds
Marten Scheffer,G. J. Van Geest,Kyle D. Zimmer,Erik Jeppesen,Martin Søndergaard,Malcolm G. Butler,Mark A. Hanson,Steven Declerck,L. De Meester +8 more
TL;DR: It is suggested that connection of isolated habitat fragments may in some cases reduce, rather than enhance, landscape-level biodiversity, and implies that biodiversity at the regional level will be maximized if the local habitat patches vary widely in size and degree of connectivity.
Journal ArticleDOI
15 years of pond assessment in Britain : results and lessons learned from the work of Pond Conservation
TL;DR: The UK National Pond Survey (NPS) as mentioned in this paper has been used to demonstrate the importance of small water bodies for freshwater plants and animals, to establish techniques for assessing the ecological status of ponds and to provide the basis for a new national pond monitoring network in the UK.