Groundwater is a hidden global keystone ecosystem

Global Change Biology, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 30(1)

Опубликована: Дек. 12, 2023

Abstract Groundwater is a vital ecosystem of the global water cycle, hosting unique biodiversity and providing essential services to societies. Despite being largest unfrozen freshwater resource, in period depletion by extraction pollution, groundwater environments have been repeatedly overlooked conservation agendas. Disregarding importance as an ignores its critical role preserving surface biomes. To foster timely groundwater, we propose elevating concept keystone species into realm ecosystems, claiming that influences integrity many dependent ecosystems. Our analysis shows over half land areas (52.6%) has medium‐to‐high interaction with reaching up 74.9% when deserts high mountains are excluded. We postulate intrinsic transboundary features for shifting perspectives towards more holistic approaches aquatic ecology beyond. Furthermore, eight key themes develop science‐policy integrated agenda. Given ecosystems above below ground intersect at levels, considering component planetary health pivotal reduce loss buffer against climate change.

Язык: Английский

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A global meta-analysis reveals multilevel and context-dependent effects of climate change on subterranean ecosystems

One Earth, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 6(11), С. 1510 - 1522

Опубликована: Сен. 29, 2023

Subterranean ecosystems (e.g., caves, groundwaters, fissure systems) are often overlooked in global climate change and conservation agendas. This contrasts with their widespread distribution, rich biodiversity, importance to humans as providers of multiple ecosystem services. Worryingly, evidence is accumulating regarding diverse biological alterations subterranean under exposure. Yet, we lack quantification the magnitude these impacts across scales components. Here, assembled a dataset covering 347 measurements impact at organismal physiology, behavior, population/community, habitat levels. Through meta-analysis, showed that effects act gene community levels varying strength direction depending on habitat, taxa, degree specialization. By building nuanced understanding multilevel ecosystems, our analysis underscores vulnerability different components, providing supported rationale for incorporation into agendas through targeted measures.

Язык: Английский

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Physiological tolerance and ecotoxicological constraints of groundwater fauna

Elsevier eBooks, Год журнала: 2023, Номер unknown, С. 457 - 479

Опубликована: Янв. 1, 2023

Язык: Английский

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Microplastic pollution calls for urgent investigations in stygobiont habitats: A case study from Classical karst

Journal of Environmental Management, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 356, С. 120672 - 120672

Опубликована: Март 19, 2024

Microplastic pollution in karst systems is still poorly studied, despite the presence of protected species and habitats, important water reserves. Vulnerable key hosted these habitats could consume or assimilate microplastics, which can irreversibly damage management efforts, thus ecosystems functionality. This be particularly true for subterranean where microplastic effects on wildlife programs are not considered. The aim this study to provide a case from Classical Karst Region, hosts peculiar at European level, such as olm Proteus anguinus. As area has been deeply exploited modified over time, adjacent highways, roads railways, contribute within system, threatening ecosystems, it provides perfect model system. In we collected investigated sediment samples aquatic environments surface hosting several environment-adapted organisms. Examined particles were counted characterized by size, color shape via visual identification under microscope, with without UV light. Furthermore, spectroscopic analyses carried out order identify microplastics typology. Microplastics found all examined habitats. water, concentration ranged 37 86 items/L, sediments 776 2064 items/kg. Fibre-shape was main present, followed fragments beads, suggesting multiple sources pollution, especially textile products. Most fluorescent light mainly transparent, while not-fluorescent ones black, blue brown. Samples contained polyesters copolymers. These results highlight intense MP areas, significant impacts quality, potential environment-dwelling species. We stress importance monitoring critical biodiversity habitat conservation: areas must become priority protection, resources management, improving larger number

Язык: Английский

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Environmental risk of diclofenac in European groundwaters and implications for environmental quality standards

Scientific Reports, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 14(1)

Опубликована: Сен. 5, 2024

Язык: 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, Год журнала: 2024, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Март 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.

Язык: Английский

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Role of invertebrates in groundwater ecosystem processes and services

Elsevier eBooks, Год журнала: 2023, Номер unknown, С. 263 - 281

Опубликована: Янв. 1, 2023

Язык: Английский

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Global overview on groundwater fauna

Ecohydrology, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 17(1)

Опубликована: Дек. 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.

Язык: Английский

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Functional trait dataset of European groundwater Amphipoda: Niphargidae and Typhlogammaridae

Scientific Data, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 11(1)

Опубликована: Фев. 10, 2024

Abstract Groundwater represents a vast, but mostly hidden and inaccessible ecosystem. Although often overlooked in freshwater research, groundwater organisms form significant part of biodiversity, whereas their functions are crucial different ecosystem processes. Knowledge on functional traits is generally lacking for most species worldwide, yet European amphipods, particularly the family Niphargidae, an exception. They well-researched used as model system ecological evolutionary studies. We focused this group to assemble first trait dataset dedicated species. gathered data eight morphological quantified through 27 measurements 1123 individuals which represent 180 314 MOTUs. Besides data, every entry accompanied with locality information, including habitat type, DNA sequences if available. The structure processing information provided along enable wide applicability extension other amphipod taxa. When coupled phylogeny, may further enhance aspects biodiversity patterns, community assembly processes, evolution.

Язык: Английский

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Use of trait concepts and terminology in freshwater ecology: Historic, current, and future perspectives

Freshwater Biology, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 69(4), С. 477 - 495

Опубликована: Фев. 12, 2024

Abstract Trait‐based approaches have received increasing interest among freshwater scientists given their capacity to predict community structure and biodiversity effects on ecosystem functioning. However, the inconsistent development use of trait concepts terms across scientific disciplines may limited realisation potential traits. Here, we reviewed definitions provide recommendations for consistent application in science. To do so, first literature identify established definitions, historical current challenges restricting trait‐based Next, surveyed 414 researchers from 54 countries assess variability terminology relation respondent characteristics (i.e., professional experience, geographical region, research discipline, focal ecosystem, biotic group, function). Our review identified two well‐established which emphasise individual phenotypic that influence either eco‐evolutionary aspects organism performance fitness) or dynamics processes responses environment and/or functioning). Publications used a range trait‐related frequency varied fields. The term functional dominated fields such as conservation, environmental sciences ecology, plant microbiology. In contrast, biological , species were with similar frequencies entomology, fisheries, marine biology, zoology. We also found are difficult apply unicellular organisms, colonial multicellular genomic information, cultural survey revealed highly researchers. Terms including structural measure function commonly describe same traits functions. Variability was generally explained by group propose making concept flexible enough be applicable all biota characteristics, while keeping integrating links aspects. Specifically, our new definition expands considering supra‐individual scales measurement (colonial‐ community‐mean traits), genotypic (e.g., gene markers enzymes) feeding behaviours, communication skills). reduce terminological ambiguity, recommend define terms, prioritising an overarching over alternative ), specific morphological ) situations precision is desirable. findings integrative study could help improve consistency better recognise elucidate mechanisms behind ecological patterns.

Язык: Английский

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