. 24/7 Space News .
WATER WORLD
What is a pond? Study provides first data-driven definition
by Staff Writers
Ithaca NY (SPX) Jul 07, 2022

illustration only

Nearly everyone can identify a pond, but what, exactly, distinguishes it from a lake or a wetland? A new study co-led by Cornell University offers the first data-driven, functional definition of a pond and evidence of ponds' distinct ecological function, which could have broad implications for science and policy.

"The lack of a universal pond definition causes a lot of confusion, from people wondering about the difference between a pond and a lake, to aquatic monitoring programs with different definitions across governmental agencies, even up to accurately modeling global carbon budgets," said Meredith Holgerson, assistant professor of ecology and evolutionary biology and co-first author of "A functional definition to distinguish ponds from lakes and wetlands," published June 21 in Scientific Reports.

"We wanted to evaluate how scientists and policymakers define ponds and examine whether ponds are functionally distinct from lakes and wetlands," Holgerson said.

Their conclusion: Ponds are small and shallow waterbodies, with a maximum surface area of five hectares, a maximum depth of 5 meters and less than 30% emergent vegetation.

There are hundreds of millions or even billions of ponds globally - more than 95% of the world's still waterbodies are small (under 10 hectares) - but the humble pond is understudied and has been largely left out of federal and state monitoring and protection programs.

This is partly because their numbers make monitoring difficult but also because agencies fail to define them or distinguish them from lakes or wetlands. The neglect has implications for the accuracy of climate modeling, as ponds are high emitters of greenhouse gases, and their contribution to the global carbon budget is uncertain.

Holgerson and her team examined how scientists defined pond in more than 500 relevant scientific papers, coding it for different descriptors, like surface area or depth, and whether the descriptions were qualitative or quantitative.

"We found that there wasn't one definition that researchers all cited, and the definitions were often qualitative, describing a pond as 'small,' for example," Holgerson said.

The team also conducted a survey of state agencies in charge of waterbody monitoring and conservation. Half of the states had legislation that referenced ponds, but only one state (Michigan) defined ponds. Other states designated ponds as state waters or lumped them in with either lakes or wetlands.

The researchers found that ponds are not the same as lakes or wetlands, however. Further examination of the literature revealed that ponds have distinct ecological structures and function that make their categorization with either lakes or wetlands problematic.

Holgerson and her team plotted the relationships between surface area and various metrics of ecological structure or function. "We looked at parameters like gross primary production, respiration, chlorophyll levels, greenhouse gas emissions, diel temperature ranges, and the rate of gas exchange with the atmosphere," Holgerson said. "Nine out of the 10 ecosystem parameters related nonlinearly to surface area, suggesting that ponds really are acting differently."

They also examined how these ecosystem metrics related to depth and emergent vegetation - plants rooted in the bottom that extend to the surface - and again found nonlinear relationships. They used the thresholds for where waterbody functions began to change with surface area, depth, and emergent vegetation to arrive at their definition.

The distinct profile and characteristics of ponds means they shouldn't be held to the same monitoring standards as lakes or wetlands, Holgerson said. "For example, ponds may have naturally higher nutrient concentrations and higher methane fluxes. We may need to develop unique water quality standards for pond monitoring."

More research is needed to hone the definition, particularly to better understand waterbodies at the boundaries between wetlands and ponds, and ponds and lakes, and how size, depth, vegetation - and other variables like how sheltered a waterbody is - impact the pond's functioning and its categorization.

"At the beginning of the study, we weren't sure if our research would allow us to propose a new definition that we felt confident about, but we think the numbers we offer are solid and a great jumping off point for further research," Holgerson said. "We do call for more research, especially to look at boundaries between wetlands, ponds, and lakes."

Holgerson hopes the new definition will also call attention to ponds as distinct, significant ecosystems that are worthy of study, monitoring, and protection. "Researching and monitoring ponds can help us figure out how these globally abundant waterbodies function. There's also an essential human element," Holgerson said. "So many people have connections to ponds-they have childhood stories of catching frogs or learning to fish in a nearby pond."

This research was supported by numerous agencies including the Global Lake Ecological Observatory Network, the National Science Foundation and the St. Olaf Collaborative Undergraduate Research and Inquiry Program.

Research Report:A functional definition to distinguish ponds from lakes and wetlands


Related Links
Cornell University
Water News - Science, Technology and Politics


Thanks for being there;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5+ Billed Monthly


paypal only
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal


WATER WORLD
Wellington wastewater a security headache for China
Wellington (AFP) July 7, 2022
China is insisting one of the main wastewater pipes beneath the New Zealand capital Wellington be diverted to ease security concerns for its new embassy, a city official confirmed Thursday. The pipe is large enough for people to walk through and runs under a block of land where the new Chinese embassy is to be built. "Security is the issue," Wellington city council spokesman Richard MacLean told AFP. "It's a big enough pipe for people to move around in." The council has no objections to ... read more

Comment using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.



Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

WATER WORLD
CAPSTONE deploys from Rocket Lab Lunar Photon into Lunar Transfer Orbit

RIT receives NASA funding to develop new diffractive solar sail concepts

Rocket Lab's Lunar Photon completes 6th orbital raise preps for final Earth-escape burn

NASA program brings big benefits to Big Ten School

WATER WORLD
Hypersonics: Developing and defending against missiles far faster than sound

Musk says doing 'best' to boost birth rates

Rocket Lab Introduces Responsive Space Program

Elon Musk had twins with company exec last year: report

WATER WORLD
My Favorite Martian Image: 'Enchanted' Rocks at Jezero Crater

Eyeing Kukenan - Sols 3519-3524

Historic Mars mission completes all preset tasks

Help NASA scientists find clouds on Mars

WATER WORLD
Wheels on China's Zhurong rover keep stable with novel material

Shenzhou XIII astronauts doing well after returning to Earth

Chinese official says its Mars sample mission will beat NASA back to Earth

China's deep space exploration laboratory starts operation

WATER WORLD
SatixFy Technology enables first 5G link through a LEO constellation

SES-22 set to launch on Falcon 9 June 29

Inmarsat report calls for enhanced debris mitigation and stronger regulations in space

Beyond Gravity launches its own start-up program "Launchpad"

WATER WORLD
ICEYE expands its business to offer complete satellite missions for customers

Smart textiles sense how their users are moving

US giant 3M agrees big payout in Belgium chemical scandal

WVU researchers won't hit snooze on mattress recycling needs

WATER WORLD
AI experts called on to join the hunt for exoplanets

Life in the Earth's interior as productive as in some ocean waters

Long-term liquid water also on non-Earth-like planets

Ancient microbes may help us find extraterrestrial life forms

WATER WORLD
You can help scientists study the atmosphere on Jupiter

SwRI scientists identify a possible source for Charon's red cap

NASA's Europa Clipper Mission Completes Main Body of the Spacecraft

Gemini North Telescope Helps Explain Why Uranus and Neptune Are Different Colors









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.