A proposal for a groundwater habitat classification at local scale

Gutjahr, Simon; Schmidt, Susanne I.; Hahn, Hans Jürgen

doi:10.3897/subtbiol.14.5429

Cited by 10 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…Work to date has documented the richness and distribution of groundwater species at distinct scales (from local to regional), allowing the characteristics of groundwater habitats commonly classified as porous, fissured, or karstic to be defined (Gibert, ; Gibert, Danielopol, & Stanford, ; Gutjahr, Schmidt, & Hahn, ; Stoch et al, ). However, the reliability of groundwater assemblages as biological markers is still unevenly explored at continental level.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring the distribution of groundwater Crustacea (Copepoda and Ostracoda) to disentangle aquifer type features—A case study in the upper Tajo basin (Central Spain)

et al. 2017

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One of the most challenging questions in the assessment of groundwater ecosystem health is whether assemblages of groundwater biota can be used reliably as biomarkers. In this study, we aimed to (a) explore the diversity, distribution, and ecological composition of groundwater Crustacea, Copepoda, and Ostracoda communities from six aquifers in Central Spain and (b) relate the structure of the species assemblages to the aquifers' hydrogeological conditions, habitat features, and hydrochemistry. The datasets were simultaneously collected from 24 boreholes drilled in six unconfined aquifers from the upper part of the Tajo catchment. Our results show that the assemblages are primarily influenced by the specific hydrogeological conditions of the aquifer, determined by groundwater flow, supply of organic matter from the surface, and habitat features, whereas the aquifer's hydrochemistry has only a marginal effect. The assemblages from the Tertiary detrital aquifer were the most diverse, containing a mixture of stygobiont and nonstygobiont species distributed preferentially in the recharge area of the aquifer, characterized by medium hydraulic conductivity, high surface input and relatively high water renewal. The Quaternary alluvial aquifer type was found to have a moderate richness with several hyporheic dwellers, indicating an active surface/groundwater exchange with the adjacent stream channel.In contrast, the carbonate aquifer type was less diverse but markedly distinct owing to the high occurrence of stygobionts. Our results provide a step forward in exploring the groundwater biodiversity of aquifers in Spain and towards incorporating an ecological perspective into overall assessments of groundwater status.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring the distribution of groundwater Crustacea (Copepoda and Ostracoda) to disentangle aquifer type features—A case study in the upper Tajo basin (Central Spain)

et al. 2017

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“…The order Harpacticoida, which includes the genus Parastenocaris, have an elongated body shape and a stemchiselling movement, which is why they are predestined for living in cavities and groundwater (Hahn, 1996;Fuchs, 2007) and prefer sand and gravel as a substrate (Galassi et al, 2009). Larger numbers of Parastenocaris (464 individuals), which can tolerate GWT from 8 to > 20 • C (Fuchs et al, 2006), e.g.…”

Section: Groundwater Faunamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The natural influences on porosity, groundwater flow and nutrient delivery were also discussed as being a primary influence on natural stygobite distribution in previous studies (Hahn, 2006;Korbel and Hose, 2015). An important natural influence is the local geology, as fine sands and silts are typically rather harsh environments, resulting in an impoverishment of specific groundwater fauna such as Crustacea (Hahn, 1996). The city of Karlsruhe is located on carbonate (Würm) gravel and river terrace sands, pervaded by bands of drifting sand and inland dune sands.…”

Section: Groundwater Faunamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It incorporates ecologically important groundwater parameters, such as the relative amount of detritus, variation in groundwater temperature and concentration of dissolved oxygen (Hahn, 2006). Gutjahr et al (2014) used the GFI as part of a proposal for a groundwater habitat classification on a local scale, which introduced five types of faunistic habitats as a result of surface water influence, the content of dissolved oxygen and amount of organic matter. Moreover, in the study of Berkhoff (2010), the GFI was used to examine the impact of the surface water influence on groundwater with the aim of developing a faunistic monitoring concept for hydrological exchange processes in the surrounding river bank filtration plants.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Groundwater fauna in an urban area – natural or affected?

Koch

Menberg

Schweikert

et al. 2021

Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci.

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Abstract. In Germany, 70 % of the drinking water demand is met by groundwater, for which the quality is the product of multiple physical–chemical and biological processes. As healthy groundwater ecosystems help to provide clean drinking water, it is necessary to assess their ecological conditions. This is particularly true for densely populated urban areas, where faunistic groundwater investigations are still scarce. The aim of this study is, therefore, to provide a first assessment of the groundwater fauna in an urban area. Thus, we examine the ecological status of an anthropogenically influenced aquifer by analysing fauna in 39 groundwater monitoring wells in the city of Karlsruhe (Germany). For classification, we apply the groundwater ecosystem status index (GESI), in which a threshold of more than 70 % of crustaceans and less than 20 % of oligochaetes serves as an indication for very good and good ecological conditions. Our study reveals that only 35 % of the wells in the residential, commercial and industrial areas and 50 % of wells in the forested area fulfil these criteria. However, the study did not find clear spatial patterns with respect to land use and other anthropogenic impacts, in particular with respect to groundwater temperature. Nevertheless, there are noticeable differences in the spatial distribution of species in combination with abiotic groundwater characteristics in groundwater of the different areas of the city, which indicate that a more comprehensive assessment is required to evaluate the groundwater ecological status in more detail. In particular, more indicators, such as groundwater temperature, indicator species, delineation of site-specific characteristics and natural reference conditions should be considered.

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“…High-level human disturbances result in decreased abundance, observed in several microponds in New Athos, as well as in some parts of the river in Abrskila. Communities inhabiting caves are extremely sensitive to changes in air humidity, temperature, and illumination (Gutjahr et al 2014). Even modest actions may cause significant changes in the communities.…”

Section: Factors Determining the Structure Of Troglobiont Assemblagesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Distribution and a comparative analysis of the aquatic invertebrate fauna in caves of the western Caucasus

Chertoprud¹,

Palatov²,

Borisov³

et al. 2016

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The freshwater fauna of nine caves in central Abkhazia, western Caucasus, revealed 35 species of stygobionts, including 15 new species to be described elsewhere. The number of species per station increased from the depth towards the entrance in caves Golova Otapa and Abrskila, becoming the highest in the epigean part. In both caves, two abundance peaks of aquatic invertebrates were registered: one in the entrance area, associated with the development of amphibiotic insect larvae, the other in the depths due to the high numbers of stygobionts. In Cave New Athos, the highest species richness and abundance were observed in large lakes. In caves Golova Otapa and Abrskila, two faunistic complexes with complementary distributions were found, the first due to amphibiotic insects in the cave entrance area, the second one composed of stygobionts in the deep areas. The impact of anthropogenic factors on aquatic cave communities was also noted. The stygobiotic faunas of all caves studied were clearly divided into three groups, following the number of river valleys in which they were situated. The stygobiont faunas of the caves located within one river valley appeared to be 50% similar. In contrast, the fauna composition of the stygobionts from caves situated in different valleys shared not more than 12% species in common. Stygobiotic shrimps and gastropod mollusks show profound local endemism. Stygobiotic Amphipoda penetrating the ground waters revealed wide distributions between cave systems within a single karst massif. RESEARCH ARTICLE Subterranean BiologyPublished by The International Society for Subterranean Biology A peer-reviewed open-access journal Elena S. Chertoprud et al. / Subterranean Biology 18: 49-70 (2016) 50

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A proposal for a groundwater habitat classification at local scale

Cited by 10 publications

References 32 publications

Exploring the distribution of groundwater Crustacea (Copepoda and Ostracoda) to disentangle aquifer type features—A case study in the upper Tajo basin (Central Spain)

Exploring the distribution of groundwater Crustacea (Copepoda and Ostracoda) to disentangle aquifer type features—A case study in the upper Tajo basin (Central Spain)

Groundwater fauna in an urban area – natural or affected?

Distribution and a comparative analysis of the aquatic invertebrate fauna in caves of the western Caucasus

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