Big things come in small packages: why limnologists should care about small ponds

Abstract There is a substantial, and increasing, body of evidence that small ponds are critically important in diverse landscapes around the world by providing habitat, processing carbon, and mediating hydrological and nutrient fluxes to other larger surface waters (rivers, lakes, coastal). They are also among the most abundant surface water bodies in many areas. In an urbanizing planet, ecosystem services provided by ponds may become even more important. However, they have been historically neglected by limnologists and including them in global analyses can still be problematic. We propose that more limnologists should include small ponds in research programs; and we argue that these are also ideal systems for teaching the next generation of limnologists as well as for engaging the public.