Hydrobiologia

, Volume 634, Issue 1, pp 1–9 | Cite as

Pond conservation: from science to practice

  • Beat Oertli
  • Régis Céréghino
  • Andrew Hull
  • Rosa Miracle
POND CONSERVATION
First Online:

Abstract

In Europe, ponds are an exceptionally numerous and widely distributed landscape feature forming a major part of the continental freshwater resource and contributing significantly to freshwater biodiversity conservation. This has been reflected by a growing scientific concern over the first few years of the twenty-first century and is evidenced by an increasing number of academic publications on pond related topics, particularly those relating to biodiversity. It is essential, however, that this expanding scientific knowledge is widely disseminated to those involved with pond management and is then rapidly translated into action. Inevitably, the task of transferring science to practice remains a significant challenge. As a first step towards meeting this challenge the European Pond Conservation Network (EPCN), at its biennial meeting in 2008 in Valencia (Spain), made this the main theme of the conference together with two special workshops further encouraging exchanges between scientists, practitioners and policy makers. The papers selected for this special issue of Hydrobiologia (from over 120 communications presented) are all from the conference. They represent a diverse collection of themes from across the continent and North Africa and present new and original insights into topics as wide ranging as: pond biodiversity; human disturbance; landscape ecology; ecological assessment and monitoring; practical management measures; ecological restoration; hydrology and climate change; invasive species and threatened species. In all cases, the papers demonstrate an overriding need for the development of a tight link between scientific knowledge and management. Furthermore, scientific advances have to be beneficial for on the ground management and, vitally, have to be disseminated, communicated and implemented into local, national and international policy. As such, national and international networks (such as the EPCN) have a central role to play and have to develop a robust information and communication strategy which will enable the dissemination of best practice materials and advice across the continent and beyond. The work contained in this volume represents a step in the right direction and will help to ensure that ponds remain a characteristic and highly visible feature of the European landscape in the twenty-first century.

Keywords

Biodiversity conservation Management Ponds Small waterbodies Temporary pools Europe 
This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

Notes

Acknowledgements

We are very grateful to the “Valencia team” for the organisation of a very successful and useful meeting. In particular; special thanks goes to Ignacio Lacomba, Vicente Sancho, Benjamí Perez and all the other anonymous helpers who contributed to the excellent organisation and hospitality in their beautiful city. Thanks also for their supports to the Life-Nature project “Restoration of priority habitats for amphibians” (LIFE05/NAT/E/00060) and to the Conselleria de Medi Ambient, Aigua Urbanisme i Habitatge of the Generalitat Valenciana. We would also like to acknowledge the support from the MAVA Foundation for the organisation of the two workshops “Pond management success stories” and “Linking pond management to scientific knowledge”. We would also like to thank Audrey Greenman for undertaking the data analysis for Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and, finally, thanks to the 60 reviewers who provided helpful comments on the manuscripts submitted to this special issue.

References

  1. Amami, B., L. Rhazi, S. Bouahim, M. Rhazi & P. Grillas, 2009. Vegetation recolonization of a Mediterranean temporary pool in Morocco following small scale experimental disturbance. Hydrobiologia (this issue).Google Scholar
  2. Angélibert, S., N. Indermuehle, D. Luchier, B. Oertli & J. Perfetta, 2006. Where hides the aquatic biodiversity in the Canton of Geneva (Switzerland)? Archives des Sciences 59: 225–234.Google Scholar
  3. Becerra Jurado, G., M. Callanan, M. Gioria, J.-R. Baars, R. Harrington & M. Kelly-Quinn, 2009. Aquatic macroinvertebrate diversity of natural and wastewater treatment ponds: community structure and driving environmental factors. Hydrobiologia (this issue).Google Scholar
  4. Biggs, J., P. Williams, M. Whitfield, G. Fox & P. Nicolet, 2000. Biological techniques of still water quality assessment: phase 3. Method development. Environment Agency, Bristol.Google Scholar
  5. Boix, D., S. Gascon, J. Sala, M. Martinoy, J. Gifre & X. D. Quintana, 2005. A new index of water quality assessment in Mediterranean wetlands based on crustacean and insect assemblages: the case of Catalunya (NE Iberian peninsula). Aquatic conservation: marine and freshwater ecosystems 15: 635–651.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  6. Céréghino, R., J. Biggs, S. Declerck & B. Oertli, 2008. The ecology of European ponds: defining the characteristics of a neglected freshwater habitat. Hydrobiologia 597: 1–6.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  7. Chovanec, A., J. Waringer, M. Straif, W. Graf, W. Reckendorfer, A. Waringer-Löschenkohl, H. Waidbacher & H. Schultz, 2005. The floodplain index—a new approach for assessing the ecological status of river/floodplain-systems according to the EU Water Framework Directive. Large Rivers 15: 169–185.Google Scholar
  8. De Meester, L., S. Declerck, R. Stoks, G. Louette, F. Van de Meutter, T. De Bie, E. Michels & L. Brendonck, 2005. Ponds and pools as model systems in conservation biology, ecology and evolutionary biology. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 15: 715–725.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  9. Della Bella, V. & L. Mancini, 2009. Freshwater diatom and macroinvertebrate diversity of coastal permanent ponds along a gradient of human impact in a Mediterranean eco-region. Hydrobiologia (this issue).Google Scholar
  10. Dimitriou, E., E. Moussoulis, F. Stamati & N. Nikolaidis, 2009. Modeling hydrological characteristics of Mediterranean Temporary Ponds and potential impacts from climate change. Hydrobiologia (this issue).Google Scholar
  11. Downing, J. A., J. J. Cole, J. J. Middelburg, R. G. Striegl, C. M. Duarte, P. Kortelainen, Y. T. Prairie & K. A. Laube, 2008. Sediment organic carbon burial in agriculturally eutrophic impoundments over the last century. Global Biogeochemical Cycles 22: GB1018.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  12. Downing, J. A., Y. T. Prairie, J. J. Cole, C. M. Duarte, L. J. Tranvik, R. G. Striegl, W. H. McDowell, P. Kortelainen, N. F. Caraco, J. M. Melack & J. J. Middelburg, 2006. The global abundance and size distribution of lakes, ponds, and impoundments. Limnology and Oceanography 51: 2388–2397.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  13. EPCN (European Pond Conservation Network), 2007. Developing the pond manifesto. Annales de Limnologie—International Journal of Limnology 43: 221–232.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  14. EPCN (European Pond Conservation Network), 2008. The Pond Manifesto: 20 pp.Google Scholar
  15. Fahd, K., A. Arechederra, M. Florencio, D. León & L. Serrano, 2009. Copepods and Branchiopods of temporary ponds in the Doñana Natural Area (SW Spain): a four-decade record (1964–2007). Hydrobiologia (this issue).Google Scholar
  16. Florencio, M., L. Serrano, C. Gómez-Rodríguez, A. Millán & C. Díaz-Paniagua, 2009. Inter and intra-annual variations of macroinvertebrate assemblages are related to the hydroperiod in Mediterranean temporary ponds. Hydrobiologia (this issue).Google Scholar
  17. Indermuehle, N., S. Angélibert, V. Rosset & B. Oertli, 2009. The pond biodiversity index “IBEM”: a new tool for the rapid assessment of biodiversity in ponds from Switzerland. Part 2. Method description and examples of application. Limnetica (in press).Google Scholar
  18. Oertli, B., D. Auderset Joye, E. Castella, R. Juge, D. Cambin & J.-B. Lachavanne, 2002. Does size matter? The relationship between pond area and biodiversity. Biological Conservation 104: 59–70.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  19. Oertli, B., D. Auderset Joye, E. Castella, R. Juge, A. Lehmann & J.-B. Lachavanne, 2005a. PLOCH: a standardized method for sampling and assessing the biodiversity in ponds. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 15: 665–679.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  20. Oertli, B., J. Biggs, R. Céréghino, P. Grillas, P. Joly & J.-B. Lachavanne, 2005b. Conservation and monitoring of pond biodiversity: introduction. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 15: 535–540.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  21. Peretyatko, A., S. Teissier, S. De Backer & L. Triest, 2009. Restoration potential of biomanipulation for eutrophic peri-urban ponds: the role of zooplankton size and submerged macrophyte cover. Hydrobiologia (this issue).Google Scholar
  22. Pinto-Cruz, C., J. A. Molina, M. Barbour, V. Silva & M. D. Espírito-Santo, 2009. Plant communities as a tool in temporary ponds conservation in SW Portugal. Hydrobiologia (this issue).Google Scholar
  23. Rannap, R., A. Lõhmus & L. Briggs, 2009. Restoring ponds for amphibians: a success story. Hydrobiologia (this issue).Google Scholar
  24. Rhazi, L., P. Grillas, M. Rhazi & J.-C. Aznar, 2009a. 10-years dynamics of vegetation in relation with fluctuating hydrology in a Mediterranean temporary pool (Western Morocco). Hydrobiologia (this issue).Google Scholar
  25. Rhazi, M., P. Grillas, L. Rhazi, A. Charpentier & F. Médail, 2009b. Competition in microcosm between a clonal plant species (Bolboschoenus maritimus) and a rare quillwort (Isoetes setacea) from Mediterranean temporary pools of southern France. Hydrobiologia (this issue).Google Scholar
  26. Ricciardi, A., 2006. Are modern biological invasions an unprecendent form of global change? Conservation Biology 21: 329–336.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  27. Robinson, C. T. & B. Oertli, 2009. Long-term biomonitoring of alpine waters in the Swiss National Park. eco.mont 1: 23–34.Google Scholar
  28. Rodríguez-Pérez, H., M. Florencio, C. Gómez-Rodríguez, A. J. Green, C. Díaz-Paniagua, L. Serrano, 2009. Monitoring the invasion of the aquatic bug Trichocorixa verticalis verticalis (Hemiptera: Corixidae) in the wetlands of Doñana National Park (SW Spain). Hydrobiologia (this issue).Google Scholar
  29. Rosset, V., B. Oertli, S. Angélibert & N. Indermuehle, 2008. The local diversity of macroinvertebrates in alpine ponds as an indicator of global changes: a Gastropod case-study. Verhandlungen Internationale Vereinigung Limnologie 30: 482–484.Google Scholar
  30. Ruhí, A., D. Boix, J. Sala, S. Gascón & X. D. Quintana, 2009. Spatial and temporal patterns of pioneer macrofauna in recently created ponds: taxonomic and functional approaches. Hydrobiologia (this issue).Google Scholar
  31. Sager, L. & J.-B. Lachavanne, 2009. The M-TIP: a macrophyte based trophic index for ponds. Hydrobiologia (this issue).Google Scholar
  32. Sahib, N., L. Rhazi, M. Rhazi & P. Grillas, 2009. Experimental study of the effect of hydrology and mechanical soil disturbance on plant communities in Mediterranean temporary pools in Western Morocco. Hydrobiologia (this issue).Google Scholar
  33. Santoul, F., A. Gaujard, S. Angélibert, S. Mastrorillo & R. Céréghino, 2009. Gravel pits support waterbird diversity in an urban landscape. Hydrobiologia (this issue).Google Scholar
  34. Scher, O., P. Chavaren, M. Despreaux & A. Thiéry, 2004. Highway stormwater detention ponds as biodiversity islands ? Archives des Sciences 57: 121–130.Google Scholar
  35. Solimini, A., M. Bazzanti, A. Ruggiero & G. Carchini, 2008. Developing a multimetric index of ecological integrity based on macroinvertebrates of mountain ponds in central Italy. Hydrobiologia 597: 109–123.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  36. Triest, L. & T. Sierens, 2009. High diversity of Ruppia meadows in saline ponds and lakes of the western Mediterranean. Hydrobiologia (this issue).Google Scholar
  37. Trigal, C., F. García-Criado & C. Fernández-Aláez, 2009. Towards a multimetric index for ecological assessment of Mediterranean flatland ponds: the use of macroinvertebrates as bioindicators. Hydrobiologia 618: 109–123.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  38. Williams, P., M. Whitfield & J. Biggs, 2008. How can we make new ponds biodiverse?—a case study monitored over 8 years. Hydrobiologia 597: 137–148.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  39. Williams, P., M. Whitfield, J. Biggs, S. Bray, G. Fox, P. Nicolet & D. Sear, 2003. Comparative biodiversity of rivers, streams, ditches and ponds in an agricultural landscape in Southern England. Biological Conservation 115: 329–341.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2009

Authors and Affiliations

  • Beat Oertli
    • 1
  • Régis Céréghino
    • 2
  • Andrew Hull
    • 3
  • Rosa Miracle
    • 4
  1. 1.University of Applied Sciences Western SwitzerlandJussy-GenevaSwitzerland
  2. 2.University of ToulouseToulouseFrance
  3. 3.Liverpool John Moores UniversityLiverpoolUK
  4. 4.University of ValenciaValenciaSpain

Personalised recommendations