Fifth workshop

Luxembourg City was the host of the 5th Conference of the European Pond Conservation Network (EPCN).
The conference took place in the prestigious Neumünster Abbey located in the historical centre of Luxembourg City.

Continuing the series of EPCN conferences, it provided researchers, managers and other stakeholders with the most recent knowledge and data about the various aspects of pond ecology, protection and management.

The program included keynote lectures, podium and poster sessions covering the multi-faceted aspects of knowledge about ponds. Several specialised workshops were held in order to exchange views on policy, interactions with the landscape and practical considerations about pond management.

Eight keynote Conferences

Prof. Leon Blaustein
Community Ecology Laboratory, University of Haifa, Israel
“Ecology and conservation of the endangered fire salamander, Salamandra infraimmaculata”

Dr Annick Castiaux
Faculty of Economic, Social and Management Sciences, University of Namur, Belgium
“Ponds, small areas of History and histories…”

Prof. Régis Céréghino
EcoLab, Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
“Little things mean a lot: biological diversity in bromeliad pools”

Dr Elias Dimitriou
Institute of Inland Waters, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Athens, Greece
“Mediterranean temporary ponds in Greece. Problems, Threats and Opportunities”

Prof. Andrew Hull
Liverpool John Moores University, UK
“Global Thoughts, Local Action: Ponds, People and Planning”

Dr Pascale Nicolet
Pond Conservation: The Water Habitats Trust, United Kingdom
“The million ponds project: creating clean water ponds for freshwater wildlife”

Prof. Raymond Semlitsch
Division of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, USA
“Do pond features affect amphibian reproductive success?”

Dr Aline Waterkeyn
Laboratory of Aquatic Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Leuven, Belgium
“Mediterranean temporary ponds: from ecology to conservation”

Ten Sessions

1 Pond conservation
2 Nutrients in ponds and eutrophication
3 Ecological interactions within and between ponds
4 Metacommunities, landscape ecology and pond connectivity
5 Raising awareness on the socio-economical and historical value of ponds
6 Invasive, rare and keystone species
7 Amphibians in ponds
8 Fish ponds
9 Impact of landuse and managemenent strategies
10 Ponds in the Mediterranean area

110 participants

A total of 110 pond researchers and practitioners attended the conference.

The conference offered a broad range of contributions to 10 topics from basic research to the practical aspects of pond conservation. A special web page will be prepared next month including most posters (in pdf files).

the abstract book : soon available here
the poster page: soon available here.
Between the presentations there were plenty of opportunities for getting to know each other and to exchange experiences in a relaxed atmosphere. This was supported by a pleasant conference venue and the great evening reception on a boat cruise on the river Moselle.

Three workshops

Practical conservation of ponds
Pond policy, the wider freshwater environment and Water Framework Directive
Pond and local culture

Excursion (8th June)

Field excursion to the Haute-Sûre River (visit of the EU LIFE OTTER Project grounds).

A special issue of an international scientific journal

A special issue of Hydrobiologia (to be published in 2013 or 2014)