Warmer climate and increased periods of drought challenge agriculture productivity and the need of man-made irrigation ponds are steadily increasing to the extent that they are now often the dominant aquatic habitat in agricultural areas. Natural ponds, that are biodiversity hotspots, are simultaneously becoming scarcer due to a combination of drainage programs, water extraction and drought. This threatens (semi)aquatic biodiversity that may ultimately degrade the function and services of ecosystems, yet the potential of irrigation ponds to act as refuge for (semi)aquatic organisms remain overlooked. This project aims to investigate the biodiversity of irrigation ponds in relation to their natural counterparts in southeast Sweden using cutting-edge environmental DNA (eDNA) techniques. The project will evaluate what factors that impact irrigation pond biodiversity, clarify the extent to which irrigation ponds can mitigate the loss of natural ponds, and investigate how irrigation ponds can be designed to combine ecological and socioeconomic benefits. The project also offers a unique opportunity to test the ecological theories of island biogeography and meta-populations in aquatic habitats. The results will contribute to the development of sustainable water management practices that balance societal and ecological values, enhance our understanding of the processes shaping aquatic biodiversity, and inform policy decisions.