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Ponds are self-sustaining and self-regulating ecosystems that are a vital part of the hydrological cycle and play a variety of roles in the biosphere. Ponds are diverse, extremely dynamic, and highly productive as they offer various services like harbor biodiversity, tool for combating water scarcity, have roles in pollution mitigation and carbon sequestration. Ponds also offer sustainable solutions to support climate change amelioration and aquatic resource management. However, ponds are the most neglected aquatic ecosystems, despite their huge ecological functions. Thus, ponds are debasing at an alarming rate as a result of increased anthropogenic activities and anthropogenically driven changes in natural processes, wreaking havoc on ecological health and water quality. In this context, the major threats to ponds include the dumping of solid waste, increased urbanization, pollution, encroachment and climate change which have resulted in the deterioration of ponds over the years. Sustainable management and restoration of ponds are crucial as this ecosystem offers a wide array of ecological functions. As a result, this research aims to assess the current state of ponds in India in terms of monitoring, ecological services provided, and the various threats to which they are subjected. Further, the discussions on management and perspective restoration strategies of this substantial ecosystem are also included. Thereby, this study suggests better conservation strategies for restoration, reclamation, and sustainable utilization of ponds.

Phthalates are endocrine disruptors, reported to cause deformities and reproductive damages in animals. Numerous studies reported the presence of phthalates in water samples of rivers, wetlands, and estuaries, while the scenario in case of ponds is different, however they are reported as an integral part of biosphere. In this study, the level of phthalates’ contamination in the water samples collected from the different ponds of Amritsar district for four consecutive seasons in two years was analysed. The maximal level of phthalate contamination was found in samples collected during the monsoon season (July 2015) of first year of sampling followed by post-monsoon (October 2015) and winter season (January 2016). S8 sampling site was found to be the most phthalate contaminated site followed by S1=S11>S2=S9=S4=S5=S7>S6=S3>S10. Benzyl butyl phthalate was most abundant (found in 32% water samples) followed by di-n-butyl and dimethyl phthalate, while diallyl phthalate and diethyl phthalate were not detected. The two main drivers for these seasonal variations were observed to be temperature and precipitation. Hence, this data will be useful to explain the temporal and spatial distributions of phthalates in aquatic ecosystem, as well as to devise cost-effective ways to reduce their ecological footprints.

Microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous and constitute a global hazard to the environment because of their robustness, resilience, and long-term presence in the ecosystem. For now, the majority of research has primarily focused on marine and freshwater ecosystems, with just a small amount of attention towards the terrestrial ecosystems. Although terrestrial ecosystems are recognized as the origins and routes for MPs to reach the sea, there is a paucity of knowledge about these ecological compartments, which is necessary for conducting effective ecological risk assessments. Moreover, because of their high persistence and widespread usage in agriculture, agribusiness, and allied sectors, the presence of MPs in arable soils is undoubtedly an undeniable and severe concern. Consequently, in the recent decade, the potential risk of MPs in food production, as well as their impact on plant growth and development, has received a great deal of interest. Thus, a thorough understanding of the fate and risks MPs, as well as prospective removal procedures for safe and viable agricultural operations in real-world circumstances, are urgently needed. Therefore, the current review is proposed to highlight the potential sources and interactions of MPs with agroecosystems and plants, along with their remediation strategies.