Perspectives and pitfalls in preserving subterranean biodiversity through protected areas

npj Biodiversity, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 3(1)

Published: Jan. 16, 2024

Subterranean ecosystems (comprising terrestrial, semi-aquatic, and aquatic components) are increasingly threatened by human activities; however, the current network of surface-protected areas is inadequate to safeguard subterranean biodiversity. Establishing protected for challenging. First, there technical obstacles in mapping three-dimensional with uncertain boundaries. Second, rarity endemism organisms, combined a scarcity taxonomists, delays accumulation essential biodiversity knowledge. Third, establishing agreements preserve requires collaboration among multiple actors often competing interests. This perspective addresses challenges preserving through areas. Even face uncertainties, we suggest it both timely critical assess general criteria protection implement them based on precautionary principles. To this end, examine status European discuss solutions improve their coverage ecosystems.

Language: Английский

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STYGOTOX: A Quality‐Assessed Database of (Eco)Toxicological Data on Stygofauna and Other Aquatic Subterranean Organisms

Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 29, 2024

Abstract We have compiled the toxicity data on stygofauna and other aquatic subterranean organisms in one (eco)toxicological database. A total of 46 studies were found, containing 472 toxic endpoints covering 43 different stressors. These compounds tested from four phyla, 12 orders, 24 genera, 55 species. The included published between 1976 December 2023 using fauna collected 13 countries. suitability was assessed to indicate completeness reporting their for use hazard risk assessment. This compilation provides a valuable source future development testing protocols groundwater organisms, support decision‐making, ecological assessments derivation water quality criteria protection ecosystems. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;00:1–9. © 2024 Authors. Environmental Toxicology Chemistry by Wiley Periodicals LLC behalf SETAC.

Language: Английский

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Global overview on groundwater fauna

Ecohydrology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 17(1)

Published: Dec. 5, 2023

Abstract Groundwater is an important global resource, providing water for irrigation, industry, geothermal uses and potable water. Moreover, groundwater contains the world's largest terrestrial freshwater biome with ecosystems, inhabited mainly by invertebrates (stygofauna) microbes, undertaking services including purification, as well nutrient carbon cycling. Despite investigations on spatial temporal variations of fauna influence environmental parameters these organisms, in parts world, even most basic knowledge ecosystems still lacking. The aims this study are to provide overview research, historical evolution research topics development sampling methods secondly identify distribution resulting data gaps. To achieve this, extensive review accessible was conducted analysing 859 studies. It evident that over time, there has been exponential increase number studies together changing paradigms focus, particularly have developed from using simple nets, substrate samples hand‐pumps beginning recent molecular analyses (e.g. eDNA). As application becomes more common, diversity functional ecology expected increase. Studies spatially uneven dominated Europe Australia, few Africa, Asia Americas. This presently biased view biota hinders identification biodiversity patterns ecosystem functions a wider geographic climatic scale. In future, evenly distributed stygofauna effort currently underrepresented areas globe necessary ensure comprehensive perspective biodiversity, roles significances. increasingly accumulating sensitivities anthropogenic activities, climate change, fundamental effective management ecosystems.

Language: Английский

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EGCop: An Expert‐Curated Occurrence Dataset of European Groundwater‐Dwelling Copepods (Crustacea: Copepoda)

Global Ecology and Biogeography, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 34(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

ABSTRACT Motivation Subterranean biodiversity is increasingly threatened by multiple intertwined anthropogenic impacts, including habitat loss, pollution, overexploitation of resources, biological invasions and climate change. Worryingly, subterranean still poorly represented in conservation agendas, also due to persisting gaps our knowledge the organisms thriving often‐secluded difficult‐to‐access ecosystems. This even more apparent for small‐sized (body size < 1 mm) groundwater‐dwelling metazoans, among which copepods (Crustacea: Copepoda) represent dominant group terms both species richness biomass. We present a dataset 6986 occurrence records 588 species/subspecies European obligate copepods. curated all make their taxonomy consistent with current systematics Copepoda, while assessing uncertainty geographic coordinates coupling in‐depth web literature searches GIS analyses. suggest data provided can be used explore range eco‐evolutionary questions—from drivers distribution groundwater fauna assembly communities—as well as prompt more. Main Types Variables Contained Occurrence copepods, details about specimen taxonomy, source record, locality type. Spatial Location Grain Geographical Europe (including western Russian Federation), along Turkey Georgia. were assigned projected (EPSG:3035) at 100 m resolution but varying spatial uncertainty. Time Period 1907–2017. Major Taxa Level Measurement Crustacea: Copepoda. Most have species‐level identification, some them are identified subspecies level. Software Format Comma‐separated values file (.csv) Excel (.xlsx), UTF‐8 encoding meta‐data following Darwin Core standard.

Language: Английский

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A century later: Rediscovery and range expansion of Typhlocaris lethaea Parisi, 1920 (Crustacea, Decapoda) in subterranean karstic waters of Benghazi, northeastern Libya

Subterranean Biology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 51, P. 21 - 29

Published: March 4, 2025

This study confirms the existence of blind cave shrimp Typhlocaris lethaea Parisi, 1920, in Lethe Cave, Benghazi, Libya, nearly a century after its initial discovery, and documents new distribution Al-Coeffiah caves. Field surveys conducted 2023 2024 revealed presence El-Khadim Al-Jebah caves, extending known range by 9 km. Specimens were found subterranean lakes characterized complete darkness, with water parameters including an average temperature 22 °C, pH 7.67, salinity 4.72 ppt. Two specimens used for further analysis. These findings suggest that species is more widespread than previously thought highlight potential hydrological connections within karstic system. Additionally, discovery depigmented isopod suggests hidden biodiversity. Given IUCN data-deficient status, our emphasize need conservation efforts to protect these fragile ecosystems from human impacts, ensuring preservation Libya’s unique

Language: Английский

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Toward sustainable irrigation practices safeguarding groundwater biodiversity and ecosystem services

BioScience, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 28, 2025

Abstract Groundwater provides much of the water used globally for irrigation and human consumption is central to One Health framework. Healthy groundwater depends on self-purification processes performed by diverse biota, but these can be threatened effects irrigation. In present article, we explore this threat using an interdisciplinary framework propose recommendations sustainable We identified two major potentially harmful ecosystems: habitat loss from lowering tables irrigation-induced leaching contaminants into groundwater. These mitigated improving technological practices, crop selection, use natural small retention measures, precision irrigation, controlled agrochemicals. The construction operation systems should consider hydrogeological conditions. recommend prioritizing biomonitoring at abstraction sites, considering different aquifer types, implementing advanced methods identify multiple contamination sources.

Language: Английский

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Current research status on the distribution and transport of micro(nano)plastics in hyporheic zones and groundwater

Journal of Environmental Sciences, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 151, P. 387 - 409

Published: April 17, 2024

Language: Английский

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Monitoring Groundwater Health Using Citizen Scientists in Semi‐Arid Regional Australia

Ground Water, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: April 4, 2024

Abstract Citizen science (CS) around the world is undergoing a resurgence, potentially due to utilization of new technologies and methods capture information, such as data photo entry via mobile phone apps. CS has been used in aquatic ecology for several decades, however use volunteers collect groundwaters rarely occurred. Groundwater research, particularly groundwater ecosystems, unevenly distributed across world, limiting our knowledge these ecosystems their functions. Here, we engaged six volunteer farmers semi‐arid region north‐western New South Wales, Australia participate an assessment health using privately owned wells. Volunteers were supplied with sampling kits instructions on methods. Data retrieved indicated simultaneously providing information water quality biota present within farm aquifers. Diverse stygofauna collected from trial, which reflected historical records same catchment indicating viability citizen scientist collection. The project not only aided collection health, but also provided tool education, attracting media attention furthered education national audience. amount still required understand combined urgency manage environments, suggests that scientists may complement efforts globe establish impacts consequences human activities this resource.

Language: Английский

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Regional climate contributes more than geographic distance to beta diversity of copepods (Crustacea Copepoda) between caves of Italy

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 13(1)

Published: Dec. 1, 2023

Despite the study of subterranean biodiversity facing harsh sampling and mapping challenges, huge diversity taxa, ecological adaptations evolutionary trajectories in environments is gaining increasing attention. Yet, spatial environmental factors driving composition groundwater communities are still poorly understood. To partially fill this knowledge gap, we collected copepod crustaceans from 12 caves along Italian peninsula between 2019 2022, each cave twice. The resulting presence-absence data were analysed to assess: (i) between-cave taxonomic beta diversity, also partitioning turnover nestedness-resultant dissimilarity; (ii) relative weight geographic distance climatic differences shaping observed diversity. Seventy-one species copepods overall. Pairwise was high for most pairs caves, with being major component. Geographic distance-decay models explained total patterns. However, Generalized Dissimilarity Models (GDM), including surface conditions as predictors, contribution seasonal temperature averages generally higher than that distance. Further, explanatory predictive performance GDMs notably increased, contribution, when widening extent which climate gathered. Our results confirmed a copepods' assemblages strengthened link regional biodiversity.

Language: Английский

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Dissolved Barium Causes Toxicity to Groundwater Cyclopoida

Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 43(12), P. 2501 - 2514

Published: Aug. 13, 2024

Abstract Barium (Ba) dissolution and mobilization in groundwater are predominantly controlled by sulfate because of the low solubility barium (BaSO 4 ) minerals. Naturally present at concentrations groundwater, elevated Ba can occur as a result anthropogenic activities, including use barite drill operations, geogenic sources such leaching from geological formations. No toxicity data exist for with organisms (stygofauna) to assess risk concentrations. The study measured two stygobiont Cyclopoida species: one collected Wellington other Somersby, New South Wales, Australia. Toxicity was cyclopoid survival over 2, 4, 7, 14, 21, 28 days waters varying concentration (<1–100 mg SO /L). When present, dissolved decreased rapidly test solutions forming BaSO precipitate until depleted. excess remained form. cyclopoids clearly attributed Ba. Precipitated not toxic species. values Somersby species included (21‐day) no‐effect 3.3 mg/L an effective cause 5% mortality 4.8 (at 21 days). Elevated due and/or biogeochemical processes may pose organisms. Further testing is recommended increase available derive guideline value that be used contaminant assessments groundwaters. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:2501–2514. © 2024 Author(s). Environmental Toxicology Chemistry published Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf SETAC.

Language: Английский

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