Freshwater ecosystems are under threat worldwide from habitat destruction, pollution, and climate change. Here I sample water DNA from Singapore’s largest swamp forest remnant, which is surrounded by three artificial reservoirs. By sampling water DNA, as well as the chironomids (non-biting midge flies) that live in this habitat, we aim to understand whether the swamp forest fauna is resistant against the anthropogenically-mediated biotic influences of the adjacent reservoirs.