Permanent and temporary ponds in Doñana National Park (SW Spain) are threatened by desiccation

Doñana National Park faces severe threats to its aquatic habitats due to increasing desiccation. Research reveals that both permanent and temporary ponds have become more dependent on annual rainfall over recent decades, with some seasonal ponds drying up even in wet years. The largest permanent pond, which once exhibited stable inundation levels, now fluctuates dramatically with rainfall and risks complete desiccation during dry periods. Groundwater abstractions, particularly near urban pumping stations, are identified as the primary driver of this decline. Using Landsat imagery, scientists tracked changes in pond inundation areas, documenting a troubling trend toward shorter hydroperiods and reduced water availability across the park's wetland network. Urgent action to regulate groundwater extraction is deemed critical to preserving Doñana's ecological integrity.

Díaz-Paniagua, Carmen, & Aragonés, David. (2015). Permanent and temporary ponds in Doñana National Park (SW Spain) are threatened by desiccation. Limnetica, (34), 407–424. https://doi.org/10.23818/limn.34.31