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Description
The sample design in ECOPOND includes five geographic locations, spanning the south of Poland to the middle of Norway, where we will sample five replicates of urban and rural ponds in close geographic proximity, making it possible to test for the impact of urbanization on biodiversity and biotic homogenization across latitude. We will sample all ponds at three
different time periods (n=150), making it possible to assess seasonality in biodiversity. Traditional sampling
using morphological species identification will be close to impossible for a large set of sites and sampling
times, and repeated collections of individuals can potentially cause ecosystem damage. Therefore, ECOPOND
will utilize biodiversity screening methods that are not only manageable for a large number of sites within a
short time frame, but also gives more detailed results on all the sampled taxa at the same time.
All ponds will also be analyzed for over 20 water quality parameters and include data on a range of site characteristics that will be used as explanatory variables in all models.
ECOPOND will compare large datasets across large geographic regions and will provide detailed knowledge
of biodiversity patterns in vertebrates, invertebrates, fungal and microbial species, as well as genomic
composition and skin biodiversity for animals inhabiting the same ponds set in an urban context.
Summary of project results
The ECOPOND project focused on several interconnected challenges within freshwater pond ecosystems, addressing these through several work areas:
Urbanization and habitat degradation: Urban growth degrades freshwater habitats by impacting water quality, disrupting habitats, and introducing pollutants. ECOPOND examined biodiversity in urban vs. rural ponds across latitudinal gradients to understand how urbanization pressures shape community composition and pond ecosystem health.
Biodiversity monitoring limitations: Traditional monitoring techniques are often costly and limited in scope. ECOPOND introduced environmental DNA (eDNA) and RNA (eRNA) metabarcoding approaches to improve detection accuracy across taxa. This approach provides an efficient way to monitor biodiversity in a range of pond ecosystems to uncover trends effected by both geographic, and latitude specifically, and urbanization factors.
Pathogen spread and disease impact: Emerging diseases, such as the Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) fungus and RaHV3 herpesvirus, threaten amphibian health and survival. ECOPOND studied these pathogens to assess infection rates, impacts on amphibian populations, and potential risks of pathogen spread due to urbanization and invasive species. Combined effects of natural and anthropogenic stressors: The project also addressed how combined stressors, such as urban heat islands, seasonality, and invasive alien predators, impact species'' adaptive responses at phenotypic and genetic levels. The ECOPOND studied the adaptive responses and resilience mechanisms in these organisms. The outcomes from these studies are important for forecasting population and whole ecosystem dynamics under future environmental changes.
The ECOPOND project increased knowledge on freshwater pond biodiversity by conducting comprehensive studies across five key areas. Activities included sampling, analysing environmental DNA (eDNA) and RNA (eRNA), and monitoring the effects of urbanization, invasive species, and pathogens.
The ECOPOND project sampled urban and rural ponds across latitudinal gradients to assess biodiversity under urbanization pressures. Results demonstrated the utility of eRNA and eDNA in detecting diverse taxa at both micro- and macro-geographic scales, as well as seasonal sampling times. Important community structuring factors included vegetation development, pH, and conductivity for bacterial and fungal diversity and climatic and geographic gradients for animal diversity. These outcomes offer important insights for planning pond biomonitoring, biogeographic studies, and freshwater health assessments.
The project focused on developing effective methods for detecting pathogenic fungi and viruses in amphibian populations. Through eDNA analyses of water samples and skin swabs, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) was confirmed present in Norway. For detecting the Bd, a new improved sampling techniques was used. Additionally, the study provided the first scientific confirmation of RaHV3 herpesvirus infections in wild tadpoles, showing that viral infections can occur as early as in the larval stage. Genetic analyses of amphibian populations revealed no significant genetic differentiation across urban, suburban, and rural sites, suggesting substantial gene flow that could also facilitate pathogen spread. In the blue-tailed damselfly, the project detected adaptation
signatures likely shaped by urban stressors, specifically in genes related to synaptic regulation.
The ECOPOND project explored the microbial composition of amphibian skin through metabarcoding. Results showed distinct microbial communities across species, geographic regions, and infection status (Bd-infected vs. non-infected). Interestingly, microbiome diversity did not decline with Bd infection, and all Bd-positive samples traced back to a hyper-virulent lineage likely introduced by human activities. Despite high Bd prevalence, no amphibian mortalities were observed. Research on blue-tailed damselfly populations revealed the effects of combined stressors such as urban heat and presence of invasive alien predator. Findings showed that urban and rural damselflies exhibit distinct growth rates and body sizes under these stressors, and genetic expression also differed between northern and southern populations, indicating that survival strategies are influenced by both urbanization and geographic origin.
The ECOPOND project achieved significant outcomes that increase our understanding of biodiversity in freshwater pond ecosystems. These results benefit researchers, conservationists, and policymakers working in environmental monitoring, biodiversity conservation, and urban ecosystem management:
The use of eRNA and eDNA demonstrated that these methods can provide comprehensive and efficient biodiversity assessments. Furthermore, additional factor assessed in the project like geography, vegetation, and water parameters improved biomonitoring program.
The identification of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) in Norway, along with the development of advanced sampling methods, provides crucial data on pathogen spread and infection risks. Similarly, documenting RaHV3 herpesvirus in amphibian larvae has increased awareness of potential disease threats to freshwater biodiversity. These findings aid conservation agencies in creating strategies to prevent pathogen transmission in amphibian populations and other vulnerable species.
By assessing genetic structure among amphibian populations, ECOPOND showed that urban, suburban, and rural populations show high connectivity, suggesting that pathogens could spread readily across regions. The detection of adaptation markers in urban damselfly populations highlights the effects of urbanization on genetic diversity. These results are important for geneticists, evolutionary biologists, and conservation planners in predicting species responses to urbanization pressures. The ECOPOND’s findings on amphibian microbiome diversity, infection impacts, and the role of invasive species provide valuable information for conservation. Notably, the project’s research suggests that human-introduced pathogens like Bd may alter pond ecosystems, which require active management to prevent biodiversity loss. The project also shows how combined stressors, including urbanization and invasive alien species impact native species. Such information might be used by urban planners and conservationists in designing resilient urban ponds.
Summary of bilateral results
The bilateral collaboration between Polish and Norwegian partners was highly effective, fostering strong scientific exchange and mutual learning between 3 Polish and 2 Norwegian scientific institutions. All teams actively contributed to the research, sharing expertise and resources, which significantly enhanced the project''s outcomes. The collaboration led to the development of long-term partnerships and laid the groundwork for future joint projects. The close cooperation between the partners was instrumental in addressing challenges and achieving the project''s goals, demonstrating the value of international scientific collaboration. The direct proof are numerous joint scientific publications, joint meetings and further joint research applications Biodiversa+ 2022 Call for Proposals https://proposals.etag.ee/biodiversa/"Improved transnational monitoring of biodiversity and ecosystem change for science and society(BiodivMon)"