The multi-pond system plays an essential role in maintaining the biodiversity of the agricultural landscape. In recent years, the vast majority of farm ponds have undergone the process of territorialization, which strongly affects the aggregation degree of ponds. The aggregation degree of ponds is the spatial structure of the ponds; and thus may potentially influence the dispersal of aquatic species. Studies on how the spatial aggregation of ponds affects community composition and diversity of aquatic systems could provide guidance and insight for biodiversity protection in the multi-pond system. However, the effect of the aggregation degree of ponds on zooplankton species diversity and the potential consequences on ecological functions remain unclear. Here, we explored the potential influences of pond aggregation degree on zooplankton species diversity and their determinants (i.e., local environmental variables, spatial factors, and land use), and the zooplankton grazing efficiency in 92 ponds of the subtropical Caizi Lake catchment. The results showed that crustacean zooplankton community composition and species diversity were significantly different among three groups of ponds with different aggregation degrees. Specifically, species diversity increased with the decreasing aggregation degree of ponds. We also found that spatial factors could better explain the zooplankton species diversity and composition in ponds with a higher degree of aggregation. In addition, we observed a positive linear relationship between crustacean zooplankton diversity and their resource use efficiency in three groups of ponds. Our results suggest that the aggregation degree of ponds might influence zooplankton resource use efficiency through response of diversity. In a broader perspective, our finding suggests that the aggregation degree of ponds could enhance the effect of species diversity on ecological functions. The study emphasized the importance of biodiversity conversation in the aggregated habitats.
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