European Pond Conservation Network

25 Mar 2025

Replying to @epcn.bsky.social

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European Pond Conservation Network reposted

Pavel Kratina

@kratina.bsky.social

📣 Fully funded PhD: dark side of aquatic-terrestrial linkages NERC funded, for UK applicants: www.trees-dla.ac.uk/projects/cas... based @qmulsbbs.bsky.social, with @drdanperkins.bsky.social, @gqromero.bsky.social Please repost

onlinelibrary.wiley.comDecadal Shifts in Lake Macrophyte Communities Trace the Impact of Global Change in the PyreneesHigh-mountain lakes are among the most sensitive ecosystems to global environmental change. Their remote locations and low anthropogenic disturbance make them ideal sentinels for detecting subtle,...

New research from the #Pyrenees shows long-term shifts in #high-mountain #lake #macrophyte communities. Climate- and atmospheric-deposition-driven changes in water chemistry drove community turnover, highlighting lakes as sentinels of global change. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....

sciencedirect.comAmong-population variation in density and competitor dependence in amphibian populationsIn the Anthropocene, understanding factors regulating natural populations is key to effective conservation, particularly in light of the sixth mass ex…

A long-term study of #amphibians shows that density dependence strongly influences population growth, but its strength varies among #populations. Conservation should account for this effect rather than assuming uniformly buffered populations against stressors. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

doi.orgBiodiversity enhances pond ecosystem multifunctionality across Europe - Nature Ecology & EvolutionPonds are hotspots of biodiversity and ecosystem functions. This study of 206 European ponds across multiple taxonomic groups finds that aquatic biodiversity greatly enhances pond ecosystem multifunct...

New research across 206 #European #ponds shows that greater #biodiversity is associated with greater #ecosystem #multifunctionality. #Zooplankton richness was particularly important, while nutrient enrichment linked to intensive cropland reduced multiple #ecosystemfunctions. doi.org/10.1038/s415...

link.springer.comOn Arms and Armour: inducible defences and distribution of the Daphnia similis species complex in Central European temporary pools maintained by heavy machinery - HydrobiologiaMolecular and morphological studies have revealed that the Old World Daphnia similis complex comprises several species with varying distributions, from regional endemics to widespread taxa, usually in...

New research reveals new populations of the little-known Daphnia inopinata in #Czechia and northeastern #Hungary. The species also shows striking predator-induced changes in head shape and tail spine when exposed to Triops in temporary pools. #temporaryponds link.springer.com/article/10.1...

sciencedirect.comManagement of wetlands in mining sites conserves habitat for threatened amphibiansAmphibian diversity is sharply declining, with habitat degradation being one of the main drivers. While raw material extraction negatively affects nat…

Can active #mining sites support #amphibians? A study of 55 #ponds in #German mining landscapes recorded multiple threatened amphibian species. Field #surveys and #eDNA #metabarcoding revealed the #conservation value of these heterogeneous #wetland habitats. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

New research from #Poland shows contrasting responses of plankton to human pressure in urban #ponds. #Zooplankton richness declined with human impact, while #phytoplankton increased in abundance, highlighting the value of multiple groups for assessing #biodiversity. www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/18...

mdpi.commdpi.com

link.springer.comFrom pixels to ponds: assessing the feasibility of identifying small water features using satellite imagery - HydrobiologiaAccurate information on the current extent and ecological condition of ponds is essential for effective conservation planning and implementation. However, such efforts are often limited by insufficien...

Can #satellites help find the #ponds we need to conserve? A study from #UK tests detection through remote sensing, finding that pond size and vegetation strongly affect detectability. Results highlight the potential and limitations of satellite-based pond mapping. link.springer.com/article/10.1...

doi.orgThe vital role of ponds for biodiversity, climate, and people - HydrobiologiaThis Special Issue provides an integrated overview of current perspectives on pond ecosystems, highlighting their remarkable biodiversity, the environmental drivers that shape their ecological status,...

A new special issue brings together recent research on the role of #ponds for biodiversity, climate and people. It is from the International Pond Conference, organised by #PONDERFUL and #EPCN, exploring biodiversity, ecosystem functions, conservation, management and policy. doi.org/10.1007/s107...

European Pond Conservation Network reposted

UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH)

@ukceh.bsky.social

🌾 What can we grow in the future, balancing farming, nature and climate change? On @fao.org #WorldFoodDay we highlight research in the Cambridgeshire Fens, where we're testing crops on rewetted peatlands, including rice. Listen out for a new #CountingTheEarth episode on this topic, coming soon!

European Pond Conservation Network reposted

Biodiversity Genomics Europe plus (BGE+)

@biogeneurope.bsky.social

New @biogeneurope.bsky.social plus course on the applications of environmental DNA #eDNA #metabarcoding on #biodiversity policy and the industry: biodiversitygenomics.eu/training/edn... @iboleurope.bsky.social @ergabiodiv.bsky.social @eurotaxonomy.cetaf.org @horizoneu.bsky.social #barcoding #DNA

biodiversitygenomics.euEnvironmental DNA metabarcoding and its applications for policy & industry - BGE+For policy makers, regulators and industry professionals to understand environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding applications for biodiversity monitoring and environmental assessment.

This month’s #PhotoOfTheMonth comes from the #Albera region of #Spain, kindly submitted by Dani Boix. The photograph shows one of the #Mediterranean #temporary #ponds of this remarkable #pondscape featuring dense submerged vegetation and narrow-leaved ash trees standing in the #water.

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During the dry periods, these shallow depressions dry out, allowing terrestrial grasses and sedges to grow across the pond beds. When rains flood the basin, these grasses end up completely submerged under water. As the water level stabilizes, highly specialized aquatic flora quickly takes over.

Submissions are open for next month! 📸 Send your pond photos, along with your name and a short description, to european@pond-conservation.net! • Deadline: Oct 25th 🗓️ • Maximum 3 photos per person • You must own the rights to the image • By submitting, you agree to publication on EPCN platforms

A second view of the same Mediterranean temporary pond in the #Albera region, showing the pond’s shallow vegetated margins and the surrounding landscape. 🌿 Together, the two images offer a glimpse of the diverse habitats found across this pondscape.

doi.orgBehavioural and Physiological Responses of a Native Iberian Minnow Species to Heatwaves in the Presence of Invasive SpeciesFreshwater ecosystems are increasingly exposed to the dual pressures of rising temperatures and biological invasions, leaving native fish populations particularly vulnerable. In Portugal, 67 invas...

How do #heatwaves affect native freshwater species when #invasive #fish are present? A new study from #Portugal found that responses of the Iberian minnow depended on the invasive species present, highlighting the interacting pressures facing #Mediterranean #freshwaters. doi.org/10.1111/fwb....

doi.orgEnabling Quantitative <fc>eDNA</fc> Monitoring in Lotic Ecosystems by Incorporating Hydrological Characteristics and Allometric ScalingEffective freshwater biodiversity monitoring requires scalable methods to estimate fish abundance or biomass. Environmental DNA (eDNA)-based approaches offer a promising alternative to observation...

New study from #Belgium shows how hydrological data can improve #eDNA-based estimates of fish abundance and biomass in rivers. The findings highlight the potential of eDNA for quantitative #freshwater biodiversity monitoring. doi.org/10.1111/fwb....

European Pond Conservation Network reposted

ProfColinBean

@profcolinbean.bsky.social

Are Species Distribution Models That Use Climate Variables Suitable to Forecast the Changing Distribution of Freshwater Organisms?. Freshwater Biology 71, no. 9: e70300. doi.org/10.1111/fwb.....

doi.orgAre Species Distribution Models That Use Climate Variables Suitable to Forecast the Changing Distribution of Freshwater Organisms?Species distribution models can be used to identify locations with environmental conditions suitable for populations in the past, present and future. However, climate variables commonly applied in...

European Pond Conservation Network reposted

Patrick Lynch

@patrlynch1.bsky.social

18 Sept

My 2026 book: PONDS: An Illustrated Guide. youtu.be/B1b1IId_gd8?... 🧪🌿🌎🐡🪶 #wildlife #scicomm #sciviz #wildlifeart #illustration #scientificillustration #natureart #visualscicomm #sciviz #scicomm #freshwater #ponds #lakes

youtu.bePONDS: An Illustrated GuideYouTube video by Patrick Lynch

European Pond Conservation Network reposted

tpetzoldt.bsky.social

@tpetzoldt.bsky.social

12 Sept

Cyanoaction launches a Pan-European Stakeholder Survey on Harmful #Cyanobacteria Blooms. It is intended for water managers, researchers, authorities, organisations and all stakeholders: t1p.de/8eucc @cyanoaction.bsky.social @dgl-ev.bsky.social @freshwaterbio.bsky.social @epcn.bsky.social

frontiersin.orgFrontiers | Pond diversity in the hands of the community: eDNA metabarcoding meets participatory science in the GenePools projectPonds in urban green spaces, including those in private gardens and public areas, are important biodiversity refuges in otherwise ecologically constrained la...

9 Sept

How much biodiversity can #urban_ponds hold? New study combined #eDNA #metabarcoding with #community_science to explore #pond #biodiversity! Sampling revealed extensive diversity across multiple groups, highlighting ponds as important urban biodiversity refuges. www.frontiersin.org/journals/env...

link.springer.comAgricultural landscapes decrease zooplankton hatching rates in temporary ponds - HydrobiologiaWe investigated the role of dormant zooplankton in maintaining biodiversity in temporary environments of semi-arid regions under different levels of anthropogenic pressure: high (intensive agriculture...

7 Sept

A new study finds that #agricultural landscapes can reduce #zooplankton hatching rates in #temporaryponds. Highly impacted ponds showed lower hatching rates and diversity, highlighting how land-use pressure can affect dormant communities and their resilience. link.springer.com/article/10.1...

This month’s #PhotoOfTheMonth was kindly submitted by Carla Corazza and features a historic #retting #pond from #Italy. These ponds were once used to rett #hemp (Cannabis sativa) for textiles and sailing equipment, and many survive today as valuable stepping stones for #freshwater #biodiversity!

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Although abandoned after WWII as hemp was replaced by cotton and engine-powered vessels, many of these #retting #ponds have survived. Today, they retain not only ecological value as stepping stones, but also an important #cultural and #historical heritage. 🏛️ Submissions are open for next month! 📸

Send your pond photos, along with your name and a short description, to european@pond-conservation.net! • Deadline: Sep 20th 🗓️ • Maximum 3 photos per person • You must own the rights to the image • By submitting, you agree to publication on EPCN platforms

@mesquitajoanes.bsky.social

A second photo from Carla shows another of these #historic #retting #ponds, forming part of the same remarkable #pondscape. Once used to process #hemp for textiles and sailing equipment, these ponds are a fascinating example of how human history and pond landscapes can become intertwined. 🌿

European Pond Conservation Network reposted

F. Mesquita-Joanes

24 Aug

Testing for the Presence of Photobionts in Eucypris virens (Crustacea: Ostracoda) Green Valves. Happy to see this published after decades of research. 😀 #Ostracoda onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

onlinelibrary.wiley.comTesting for the Presence of Photobionts in <fi>Eucypris virens</fi> (Crustacea: Ostracoda) Green ValvesCrustaceans exhibit a wide range of organic pigments with different colorations and functions. However, little is known about the origin and function of the characteristic green pigmentation that ...

European Pond Conservation Network reposted

Horváth Metacommunity Lab

@metacomlab.bsky.social

19 Aug

Our sampling campaign tracking the activity of #mammals and bats using #garden #ponds is nearly at an end! In this project, we set up an #emergence trap, a #camera trap, and a #bat detector at 80 garden ponds in #Budapest and surrounding areas. Details can be found in the photos and comments.

European Pond Conservation Network reposted

Convention on Wetlands

@ramsar.org

16 Aug

Wetlands connect land and water, regulate water flows, recharge groundwater, support biodiversity and help build resilience to droughts and floods. Protecting and restoring these interconnected ecosystems is essential to strengthening resilience and securing livelihoods.

link.springer.comFish stock management as a driver of a nested community structure of macrophytes in fish pond systems - HydrobiologiaFish production in ponds has received less attention in the context of reconciliation between agricultural production and biodiversity conservation. These systems can contain remarkable biodiversity, ...

16 Aug

Can #fish #pond management shape #biodiversity? Research found that fish stocking reduced #macrophyte richness and progressively filtered species from local communities. Mixed #stocking intensities can help reconcile fish production with biodiversity conservation. link.springer.com/article/10.1...

onlinelibrary.wiley.comUrbanisation Restructures but Does Not Reduce Freshwater Pond BiodiversityAim Urbanisation is a dominant driver of landscape change leading to widespread displacement, degradation and fragmentation of habitat for native species and numerous studies have documented loss of...

16 Aug

How does #urbanisation affect #biodiversity in #freshwater #ponds? New study found that urbanisation reshaped amphibian and macroinvertebrate communities but did not reduce richness. Temperature, pH and canopy cover were strong predictors for several groups. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....

link.springer.comEcological interplay between diatoms and plants in Mediterranean temporary ponds habitat - HydrobiologiaIn the Mediterranean region, temporary ponds (MTPs) are priority habitats hosting rare and endemic species significantly threatened globally. This research represents the first characterization of dia...

Are #diatoms and #plants linked in Mediterranean #temporary #ponds? New study from #Italy found links between diatom communities, vegetation and environmental conditions, highlighting diatoms as potential #bioindicators of ecological conditions in these habitats. link.springer.com/article/10.1...

link.springer.comDormant or non-dormant seeds: different germination strategies used by common aquatic plants in Mediterranean temporary ponds - HydrobiologiaIn temporary ponds, the re-establishment of aquatic plant assemblages after desiccation mainly depends on seed germination. We analysed the seed germination dynamics of common aquatic plants in Medite...

How do #aquatic #plants survive the dry phase of #Mediterranean #temporary #ponds? New study shows that common pond plants use contrasting strategies: some seeds germinate readily, others require a period of dry after-ripening before the next inundation cycle. link.springer.com/article/10.1...

link.springer.comHydroregime-dependent shifts in zooplankton hatching under increasing temperatures in Mediterranean temporary ponds: an experimental approach - HydrobiologiaZooplankton hatching is triggered by a series of environmental cues, and changes in these cues may alter hatching patterns. Our main objective was to assess how a 4 °C temperature increase influences ...

Can #climate warming affect the #emergence of #zooplankton from #temporary #pond sediments? Experiments in #Spanish and #Chilean #Mediterranean #ponds show that a 4°C increase altered #hatching timing and abundance differently among taxa, depending on hydroregime. link.springer.com/article/10.1...

frontiersin.orgFrontiers | Alpine temporary ponds as overlooked sinks of anthropogenic macrolitterTemporary ponds represent fragile habitats that host species of high ecological and conservation interest. High-altitude ponds, although often considered pri...

#Alpine #temporary #ponds are not free from #human_impacts. New study in #Switzerland documents anthropogenic macrolitter in temporary ponds at 2478 m a.s.l., with #litter density linked to pond size and proximity to a restaurant. Find out more here: www.frontiersin.org/journals/env...

onlinelibrary.wiley.comTemporary Ponds as Overlooked Refugia for Red List Diatom Species: Implications for ConservationThe proposed study addresses diatom Red List knowledge gap by offering new insights into the occurrence, elevational distribution and seasonal preferences of Red-Listed diatom species inhabiting temp...

Temporary ponds harbour more biodiversity than we realise. A study of six temporary ponds across an elevation gradient in #Italy found 27 Red-Listed diatom species, including Vulnerable and Endangered taxa, many occurring only during narrow seasonal windows. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....

link.springer.comHydrogeological modeling and global climate change impacts on the last permanent sand-dune pond in the Doñana World Heritage Site: Santa Olalla Pond, Spain - Hydrogeology JournalThe ongoing degradation of Doñana National Park (Spain), particularly its fragile sand-dune pond ecosystems, highlights the urgent need for effective and comprehensive conservation efforts. Santa Olal...

Santa Olalla Pond, the last permanent sand-dune pond in Doñana, is threatened by #climate_change! Hydrogeological modelling projects reductions in #hydroperiod, highlighting the need for sustainable #water_management and urgent #conservation of this iconic #pond. link.springer.com/article/10.1...

onlinelibrary.wiley.comVegetation trajectories over 150 years of temporary ponds created in the Camargue delta (Southern France)Creating favorable hydro-saline conditions is a fundamental prerequisite for the development of plant communities in temporary ponds. The vegetation of newly created temporary ponds takes several dec....

What happens to #vegetation in restored #temporary #ponds? A study from #France, shows submerged macrophytes can converge toward reference communities, while emergent vegetation recovers much more slowly. #Restoration cannot fully replace #natural #ponds. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....

sciencedirect.comOxygen uptake in two temporary pond ostracods (Crustacea: Ostracoda) in response to different temperatures and salt contents: testing the Metabolic Cold Adaptation hypothesisTemporary ponds experience wide variation in their physical and chemical conditions, including changes in temperature and salinity, two critical facto…

How do #temperature and #salinity shape #metabolism in #temporary #pond #ostracods? 🦐 A new study of Eucypris virens and Heterocypris incongruens supports the Metabolic Cold Adaptation hypothesis and reveals species-specific responses to salinity. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

engage.iucn.orgFreshwater Wetland Ecosystems: Global Conservation and AssessmentJoin the Wetland Ecosystems Specialist Group for their first CEM Dialogue! Freshwater Wetland Ecosystems: Global Conservation and Assessment Moderators:Dr Tatiana Lobato de Magalhães and Dr Yasmin Qui...

Join the first IUCN CEM Wetland Ecosystems Specialist Group Dialogue! Freshwater Wetland Ecosystems: Global Conservation and Assessment 📅 Aug 12th 🌍 Online Hear leading experts discuss wetland conservation, assessment methods, and emerging challenges. Learn more: engage.iucn.org/group/iucn-c...

The webinar brings together international experts to discuss freshwater wetland conservation, assessment methodologies, emerging technologies, and the role of Indigenous Peoples and local communities in wetland stewardship.

Panelists include Gillian Davies, Luis Zambrano, Marinus Otte, and Marcos Valderrábano, moderated by Tatiana Lobato de Magalhães and Yasmin Quintana

EPCN Photo of the Month is from #Italy, submitted by Davide Taurozzi. A #temporary #pond at over 1,600 m in the Monti della Laga National Park, highlighting the remarkable diversity of European #mountain #freshwater habitats. 🏔️💧 Submissions are now open for next month’s Photo of the Month! 📸

aslopubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.comZooplankton communities and their responses to fish presence and urban cover across garden and other urban pondsAs cities expand globally, the ratio of artificial to natural freshwater habitats is increasing. While public urban ponds have been the subject of an increasing number of biodiversity studies, the bi...

Send your pond photos, along with your name and a short description, to european@pond-conservation.net! • Deadline: Aug 23rd 🗓️ • Maximum 3 photos per person • You must own the rights to the image • By submitting, you agree to publication on EPCN platforms

European Pond Conservation Network reposted

Thu-Hương Huỳnh

@hhuong152.bsky.social

25 July

Garden ponds are easy to dismiss as too small to matter, but they contribute meaningfully to #urbanbiodiversity. Our new paper looks at what zooplankton live in garden vs urban ponds, and how fish and urban cover shape those communities. Check it out: doi.org/10.1002/lno....

European Pond Conservation Network reposted

Eawag Aquatic Research

@eawag.bsky.social

20 July

The hidden drivers of cyanobacterial blooms 💧 https://f.mtr.cool/gjxrjdbhdy #cyanobacteria #cyanobloom #greifensee

f.mtr.coolThe hidden drivers of cyanobacterial bloomsToxic blue-green algae blooms are a threat to lake ecosystems and can be toxic for humans and animals. At present, it is only possible to predict roughly when and where such blooms will form – based on water temperature and nutrient levels. Now, a long-term study by Eawag researchers shows that the accumulation of blue-green algae in a lake depends crucially on other plankton species: some organisms promote blue-green algae blooms, whilst others can prevent them even under favourable environmental conditions.