The DOI matches its Crossref record; 29 of the 29 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Comparative biodiversity of aquatic habitats in the European agricultural landscape
Abstract
Recent evidence has begun to call into question the assumption that aquatic biodiversity is concentrated exclusively in larger rivers and lakes, instead showing that it is distributed throughout the landscape and that small waterbodies, such as ponds and ditches, make a significant contribution to biodiversity. We compared the physicochemical and aquatic biodiversity characteristics of ditches, lakes, ponds, rivers and streams in five locations in Europe in three biogeographic zones. At the individual site level (alpha diversity), rivers were found to be the most species-rich waterbodies; however, at the regional level (gamma diversity), ponds were the most species-rich aquatic habitat for both wetland plants and macroinvertebrates. In terms of rare species, ponds also had a higher rarity value, measured by a Species Rarity Index, than other habitat types, although data for this analysis were only available from the United Kingdom. The high biodiversity values of ponds suggest that they should be more central to strategies for the protection and management of aquatic biodiversity.
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In the citing paper
“Cumulatively, ponds often support a greater biodiversity than other freshwater habitats (e.g., lakes and rivers), sustain many rare and endangered aquatic taxa, and act as important “refuges” in heavily modified landscapes (Davies et al. 2008).”
From Pond ecology and conservation: research priorities and knowledge gaps (2021) · cites this paper as Davies et al. 2008
In the citing paper
“Ponds are among the most biodiverse and ecologically important freshwater habitats globally and may provide a significant opportunity to mitigate anthropogenic pressures and reverse the decline of aquatic biodiversity.”
From Pond ecology and conservation: research priorities and knowledge gaps (2021) · cites this paper as Davies et al. 2008
In the citing paper
“Cumulatively, ponds often support a greater biodiversity than other freshwater habitats (e.g., lakes and rivers), sustain many rare and endangered aquatic taxa, and act as important “refuges” in heavily modified landscapes (Davies et al. 2008).”
From Pond ecology and conservation: research priorities and knowledge gaps (2021) · cites this paper as Davies et al. 2008
In the citing paper
“Cumulatively, ponds often support a greater biodiversity than other freshwater habitats (e.g., lakes and rivers), sustain many rare and endangered aquatic taxa, and act as important “refuges” in heavily modified landscapes (Davies et al. 2008).”
From Pond ecology and conservation: research priorities and knowledge gaps (2021) · cites this paper as Davies et al. 2008
In the citing paper
“Freshwater habitats are not discrete entities but often exist in networks (e.g., an interconnected system of ponds, rivers, streams, and lakes; Sayer 2014), and ubiquitous species are recorded across these freshwater habitats (Davies et al. 2008).”
From Pond ecology and conservation: research priorities and knowledge gaps (2021) · cites this paper as Davies et al. 2008
Citations
Cites
The global abundance and size distribution of lakes, ponds, and impoundments
Downing, J., Prairie, Y., Cole, J. J., Duarte, C. M., Tranvik, L., Striegl, R., McDowell, W. H., Kortelainen, P., Caraco, N., Melack, J., et al. (2006) · Limnology and Oceanography · doi:10.4319/lo.2006.51.5.2388 · Cited by 1,857
Williams, P., Whitfield, M., Biggs, J., Bray, S., Fox, G., Nicolet, P., & Sear, D. (2004) · Biological Conservation · doi:10.1016/s0006-3207(03)00153-8 · Cited by 906
Self-citationNew Atlas of the British and Irish Flora
Meatyard, B. (2003) · Biological Conservation · doi:10.1016/s0006-3207(03)00002-8 · Cited by 734
Does size matter? The relationship between pond area and biodiversity
Oertli, B., Joye, D. A., Castella, E., Juge, R., Cambin, D. G., & Lachavanne, J. (2002) · Biological Conservation · doi:10.1016/s0006-3207(01)00154-9 · Cited by 704
Scheffer, M., van Geest, G. J., Zimmer, K. D., Jeppesen, E., Søndergaard, M., Butler, M. G., Hanson, M. A., Declerck, S., & Meester, L. D. (2006) · Oikos · doi:10.1111/j.0030-1299.2006.14145.x · Cited by 456
Ponds and pools as model systems in conservation biology, ecology and evolutionary biology
Meester, L. D., Declerck, S., Stoks, R., Louette, G., de Meutter, F. V., Bie, T. D., Michels, E., & Brendonck, L. (2005) · Aquatic Conservation Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems · doi:10.1002/aqc.748 · Cited by 451
Biggs, J., Williams, P., Whitfield, M., Nicolet, P., & Weatherby, A. (2005) · Aquatic Conservation Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems · doi:10.1002/aqc.745 · Cited by 450
Self-citationThe wetland plant and macroinvertebrate assemblages of temporary ponds in England and Wales
Nicolet, P., Biggs, J., Fox, G., Hodson, M. J., REYNOLDS, C. S., Whitfield, M., & Williams, P. (2004) · Biological Conservation · doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2004.03.010 · Cited by 270
Self-citationFurse, M. T., Moss, D., Wright, J. F., & Armitage, P. D. (1984) · Freshwater Biology · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2427.1984.tb00040.x · Cited by 240
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Items 301–324 of 324
Effects of Cattle Disturbance on Aquatic Macroinvertebrates in Missouri Farm Ponds
Mittelhauser, J. R. (2024) · doi:10.12794/metadc2356233
Farm dams: A valuable interim step in small‐bodied threatened fish conservation
Raymond, S. M. C., Ryall, J., Fanson, B. G., Day, S., Koehn, J. D., Todd, C. R., Kitchingman, A. M., Loeun, K. L., Iscaro, B., Hogan, L., et al. (2024) · Austral Ecology · doi:10.1111/aec.70001
Ahmed, P., & Usmani, N. (2024) · Research Square · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-5383674/v1
Plant diversity and water quality of grassland ponds under different agri-environment schemes
Quoitin, P., Mahy, G., & Piqueray, J. (2025) · Community Ecology · doi:10.1007/s42974-025-00250-9
Biggs, J., Ewald, N., Nicolet, P., Case, P., Williams, P., & Tasker, S. J. L. (2025) · Ecological Solutions and Evidence · doi:10.1002/2688-8319.70089
Self-citationEffects of scattered trees on pond ecosystems: experimental evidence from a biodiversity hotspotPreprint
Moreira-Ferreira, B., Caires-Souza, J. L., Neres‐Lima, V., Prevedello, J. A., & Zandonà, E. (2025) · Research Square · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-7429547/v1
Les représentations et usages des étangs en Isère : des conflits à la concertation ?
Guisepelli, E., Perrin, J.-A., & Robin, J. (2025) · Annales de Géographie · doi:10.3917/ag.765.0056
Does size matter? Assessing the role of lentic system area on diatom diversity in subarctic Finland
Heikkinen, J. M., Granqvist, S. K. J., Laksela, P., Soininen, J., & Pajunen, V. (2025) · Inland Waters · doi:10.1080/20442041.2025.2579302
Ponds in quarries have a higher plant species richness than those in the surrounding landscape
Kettermann, M., Schmidt, C., & Fartmann, T. (2025) · Global Ecology and Conservation · doi:10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03957
Favre‐Bac, L. (2015) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/9ac9c4f6zbaacz444bza550z6f1675dfe148
Vegetation structure and riparian recovery govern ecological outcomes of restored ponds
Lee, C. S., Lee, Y. J., Kang, G. T., & Seok, J. E. (2026) · Ecological Indicators · doi:10.1016/j.ecolind.2026.114891
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Czarna, A., Maćkowiak, Ł., Michalak, K. M., Woźniak, A., Dylewski, Ł., & Kosiński, P. (2025) · Biodiversity Research and Conservation · doi:10.14746/biorc.2025.80.2
Wybrane zagadnienia z zakresu ochrony i zagrożeń środowiska. T. 2
(2022) · Jagiellonian Digital Library (Jagiellonian University)
Flora aquática de área úmida urbana
Catian, G., & Pires, R. M. (2026) · FLOVET - Boletim do Grupo de Pesquisa da Flora Vegetação e Etnobotânica · doi:10.59621/flovet.2026.v4.n15.e20260013
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Hirshberg, O., Paraskevopoulou, S., Kiemel, K., & Ben‐Ami, F. (2026) · Freshwater Biology · doi:10.1111/fwb.70302
The vital role of ponds for biodiversity, climate, and people
Fehlinger, L., Cuenca-Cambronero, M., Boix, D., Meerhoff, M., Ryfisch, S., Briers, R. A., Biggs, J., & Brucet, S. (2026) · Hydrobiologia · doi:10.1007/s10750-026-06407-5
Self-citationSender, J., & Carvalho, J. (2026) · Agriculture · doi:10.3390/agriculture16202236
Metadata
- Authors
- Davies, B., Biggs, J., Williams, P., Whitfield, M., Nicolet, P., Sear, D., Bray, S., & Maund, S.
- Affiliations
- Oxford Brookes University (GB)
- University of Southampton (GB)
- Syngenta (Switzerland) (CH)
- Corresponding author
- Davies, Bella
- Venue
- Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2008-05
- Volume
- 125
- Issue
- 1-4
- Pages
- 1-8
- ISSN
- 0167-8809 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1990971773
- Cited by
- 324
- References
- 29
- Citations by year
- 2026: 13 · 2025: 26 · 2024: 22 · 2023: 23 · 2022: 20 · 2021: 24 · 2020: 28 · 2019: 21 · 2018: 24 · 2017: 17 · 2016: 19 · 2015: 15 · 2014: 15 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 17
- FWCI
- 5.22
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment (publishedVersion)
- ePrints Soton (University of Southampton) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, UK Government
- Natural Environment Research Council
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Freshwater macroinvertebrate diversity and ecology
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Nature and Landscape Conservation › Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Nature and Landscape Conservation › Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Keywords
- aquatic biodiversity, agricultural landscapes, ponds, ditches, lakes, rivers, streams, aquatic plants, macroinvertebrates, species rarity, alpha diversity, gamma diversity, physicochemical properties, biodiversity conservation
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