Role Of Ponds Research Articles

Integrating dispersal, breeding and abundance data with graph theory for the characterization and management of functional connectivity in amphibian pondscapes

ContextRobust assessment of functional connectivity in amphibian population networks is essential to address their global decline. The potential of graph theory to characterize connectivity among amphibian populations has already been confirmed, but the movement data on which modelled graphs rely are often scarce and inaccurate. While probabilistic methods that account for intraspecific variability in dispersal better reflect the biological reality of functional connectivity, they must be informed by systematically recorded individual movement data, which are difficult to obtain for secretive taxa like amphibians.ObjectivesOur aim is to assess the applied potential of probabilistic graph theory to characterize overall connectivity across amphibian pondscapes using fine-scale capture-recapture data, and to inform conservation management based on the role of ponds on functional connectivity.MethodsWe monitored an amphibian community in a pondscape located in a Spanish “dehesa” for 2 years. Photoidentification was used to build capture histories for individuals of six species, from which dispersal kernels and population sizes were estimated to model probabilistic graphs.ResultsWe obtained kernels of variable robustness for six species. Node importance for connectivity varied between species, but with common patterns such as shared road crossing areas and the presence of coincident interconnected pond clusters.ConclusionsThe combination of photoidentification, capture-recapture data and graph theory allowed us to characterize functional connectivity across the pondscape of study accounting for dispersal variability and identify areas where conservation actions could be most efficient. Our results highlight the need to account for interspecific differences in the study and management of amphibian pondscapes.

The Role of Ponds in the Formation of the Water Regime of River Spillways

The Role of Ponds in the Formation of the Water Regime of River Spillways

The American Pond Belt: an untold story of conservation challenges and opportunities

Over the past century, millions of ponds have been constructed on farms across the eastern Great Plains of the US. Although these ponds have been built to provide water for livestock and reduce soil erosion, they also serve as habitat for native species in agricultural landscapes that historically lacked natural wetlands. Because this role in supporting biodiversity has been chronically underappreciated, approaches to managing these ponds effectively for conservation remain poorly developed. Here, we discuss the historical context of pond construction, the role of ponds in agriculture, and their present distribution across the “American Pond Belt”. On the basis of our review of their ecology and threats, we contend that farm pond conservation should focus on enhancing pondscapes – networks of ponds encompassing a range of successional stages – to support the broadest array of biodiversity at a landscape scale. We also highlight the role of scientists, agency personnel, policy makers, and landowners in the future conservation of pondscapes in the Great Plains.

Tropical Asian mega‐delta ponds: Important and threatened socio‐ecological systems

AbstractThis paper uses multimedia to showcase the narratives and lived experiences of those who live and work in tropical Asian mega‐deltas, and as such is the first journal article of its kind in the field of Regional Geography. Using videos, photography and audio this paper describes the characteristics of ponds and their place in the intrinsically connected human‐environmental fabric of these delta regions. The aim is to bring to life descriptive inventories and provide greater weight in support of our conclusion that tropical Asian mega‐delta ponds are important and threatened systems. River deltas comprise just 1% of land cover worldwide but support the livelihoods of more than 500 million people. Delta research has historically focused on the major river channels and the socio‐ecological role of ponds has been overlooked despite their large number and surface area. Ponds are intrinsically linked to daily life (potable water, sanitation, bathing, washing), industry (aquaculture, agriculture) and the natural‐cultural heritage (religion, folklore) of deltas. In contrast to the larger river channels, ponds are likely to be significant stores and processors of nutrients, including carbon, and pollutants at annual to decadal scales, on account of their heavy anthropogenic use and smaller individual sizes. Consequently, they are severely polluted water sources and pose significant public health risks. In this review, we use case studies from three Asian mega‐deltas (the Red River Delta and the Mekong River Delta, Vietnam, and the Ganges‐Brahmaputra‐Meghna Delta, India and Bangladesh) to highlight the importance of Asian mega‐delta ponds as important socio‐ecological systems in their own right. We discuss future environmental challenges, knowledge gaps on the ecological function and biodiversity of these habitats, management and policy practices, and the capacity of ponds to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Spatial variation of denitrification and key controlling factors in streams and ponds sediments from a critical zone (southwestern France)

Numerous ponds were constructed along streams for local water supply in agricultural areas of south-western France. Although the water quality of streams and ponds has been surveyed for nitrate (NO3−), the role of ponds in NO3− mitigation at a catchment scale has rarely been investigated. Since denitrification in sediments is a key NO3− pathway, the denitrification variability in stream and pond sediments and its controlling factors, particularly the pond position and characteristics are important aspects to investigate. Potential denitrification rate (PDR), physico-chemical factors, and denitrification functional genes were quantified in sediments from nine ponds located in three adjacent agricultural catchments in spring period. PDR showed a great spatial variation (both horizontal and vertical) and was mainly driven by the availability of water NO3− and sediment organic carbon. Stream discharge and pond hydraulic retention time can also affect PDR in stream and pond sediments, respectively. Although high PDR was observed in stream sediments, stream discharge diluted NO3− and can indirectly lower PDR downstream. The function of denitrifiers was revealed by the abundance ratio of nirK/16S rRNA, but no significant relationship was found between PDR and abundance of functional genes. N2O emission rate was positively related to PDR, which should be aware of in the upstream PDR hotspot ponds. Simple empirical models based on pond and sediment characteristics were good predictors of PDR, which could also help a better management of ponds by policy makers with the aim to improve NO3− mitigation and water quality.

Fish Farmers’ Perception of Ecosystem Services and Diversification of Carp Pond Aquaculture: A Case Study from Warmia and Mazury, Poland

Ecosystem services, multifunctionality and diversity play a particular role in the management of carp pond aquaculture. These three concepts have been increasingly considered in sustainable aquaculture science and policymaking. However, the understanding and acceptance of sustainable aquaculture by fish farmers is a prerequisite for the successful implementation of such a targeted policy. Research on a fish farmers’ perception of ecosystem services, multifunctionality and diversification of carp aquaculture was carried out in Warmia and Mazury, Poland. The results of interviews showed that farmers have a deep understanding of the ecosystem services and multifunctionality of carp ponds. Production services were indicated as the most important, but the role of ponds in the preservation of biodiversity was another highly valued service. The greatest diversity of the activities, and conviction of their significant impact on the profitability of carp pond farming, was observed on farms with ponds of 1 to 50 ha. In the case of larger farms, the assessment of such impact was more moderate. All surveyed farms provided educational services regarding the ecological values of the ponds. All pond users, regardless of their size, highly rated the need for financial support for the conservation and development of biodiversity.

A Simulation-Optimization Model for Conjunctive Use of Canal and Pond in Irrigating Paddy Fields

In this study, a new methodology is presented for conjunctive use of canal and pond to assess the role of ponds in saving local water and optimizing use of them in supplying irrigation water requirement of paddy fields. Evapotranspiration, runoff, irrigation water requirement, irrigation interval and pond water balance were simulated and then number of canal intake, storage volume and released volume of pond were optimized by binary genetic algorithm. Minimizing the number of canal intake and limitations of no deficit irrigation and storage volume of pond was defined as objective function and constraints, respectively. The effectiveness of the proposed methodology is examined through applying it for Fashtam pond in Sangar, Guilan province in Northern part of Iran. The results showed that 60, 54 and 46% of irrigation requirement of paddy fields were supplied by precipitation and runoff water saved in Fashtam pond and the rate of overflow of pond to maximum pond volume were 100, 74 and 34% in wet, normal and dry years, respectively. The model develops a scenario to increase pond capacity in selected case study for Fashtam pond located in Guilan province in Iran. It demonstrates how supply of irrigation to paddy fields has been increased to 100, 91 and 61% in wet, normal and dry years, respectively through simulation-optimization approach.

Revisiting salt marsh resilience to sea level rise: Are ponds responsible for permanent land loss?

AbstractPonds are unvegetated rounded depressions commonly present on marsh platforms. The role of ponds on the long‐term morphological evolution of tidal marshes is unclear—at times ponds expand but eventually recover the marsh platform, at other times ponds never recover and lead to permanent marsh loss. Existing field observations indicate that episodic disturbances of the marsh vegetation cause the formation of small (1–10 m) isolated ponds, even if the vegetated platform keeps pace with relative sea level rise (RSLR) and that isolated ponds tend to deepen and enlarge until they eventually connect to the channel network. Here I implement a simple model to study the vertical and planform evolution of a single connected pond. A newly connected pond recovers if its bed lies above the limit for marsh plant growth or if the inorganic deposition rate is larger than the RSLR rate. A pond that cannot accrete faster than RSLR will deepen and enlarge, eventually entering a runaway erosion by wave edge retreat. A large tidal range, a large sediment supply, and a low rate of RSLR favor pond recovery. The model suggests that inorganic sediment deposition alone controls pond recovery, even in marshes where organic matter dominates accretion of the vegetated platform. As such, halting permanent marsh loss by pond collapse requires to increase inorganic sediment deposition. Because pond collapse is possible even if the vegetated platform keeps pace with RSLR, I conclude that marsh resilience to RSLR is less than previously quantified.

The role of ponds as feeding habitat for an umbrella species: best management practices for the black stork Ciconia nigra in Spain

AbstractTo establish recommendations for wetland management that promote wildlife diversity in Mediterranean habitats we examined the factors that determine feeding habitat selection by the black stork Ciconia nigra in ponds. The black stork is considered an umbrella species because it is threatened, requires large foraging ranges in priority areas, is selective in its choice of diet and nesting sites, and inhabits a characteristic biological community with endemic and threatened taxa. Eighty-five ponds were monitored in central and western Spain to detect the stork feeding. At the same time, pond variables that could affect black stork feeding preferences were periodically evaluated. Generalized linear mixed models were used to analyse principal components obtained from groups of factors related to structural, location and ecological conditions. The black stork selects ponds distant from roads, with a large surface area, high water level, shallow shores, low turbidity, few traces of wild ungulates on the shores, a high diversity of fish and amphibian species, and a vegetated perimeter, in flat and open areas. Potential factors affecting feeding behaviour are discussed. We suggest measures for pond construction and management that could favour this species in particular and biodiversity in general in the Mediterranean environment.