New light in the dark - a proposed multidisciplinary framework for studying functional ecology of groundwater fauna

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dc.contributor.authorSaccò, Men_AU
dc.contributor.authorBlyth, AJen_AU
dc.contributor.authorBateman, PWen_AU
dc.contributor.authorHua, Qen_AU
dc.contributor.authorMazumder, Den_AU
dc.contributor.authorWhite, NEen_AU
dc.contributor.authorHumphreys, WFen_AU
dc.contributor.authorLaini, Aen_AU
dc.contributor.authorGriebler, Cen_AU
dc.contributor.authorGrice, Ken_AU
dc.date.accessioned2021-07-14T04:48:08Zen_AU
dc.date.available2021-07-14T04:48:08Zen_AU
dc.date.issued2019-04-20en_AU
dc.date.statistics2021-07-06en_AU
dc.description.abstractGroundwaters provide the vast majority of unfrozen freshwater resources on the planet, but our knowledge of subsurface ecosystems is surprisingly limited. Stygofauna, or stygobionts -subterranean obligate aquatic animals - provide ecosystem services such as grazing biofilms and maintaining water quality, but we know little about how their ecosystems function. The cryptic nature of groundwaters, together with the high degree of local endemism and stygofaunal site-specific adaptations, represent major obstacles for the field. To overcome these challenges, and integrate biodiversity and ecosystem function, requires a holistic design drawing on classical ecology, taxonomy, molecular ecology and geochemistry. This study presents an approach based on the integration of existing concepts in groundwater ecology with three more novel scientific techniques: compound specific stable isotope analysis (CSIA) of amino acids, radiocarbon analysis (14C) and DNA analyses of environmental samples, stygofauna and gut contents. The combination of these techniques allows elucidation of aspects of ecosystem function that are often obscured in small invertebrates and cryptic systems. Carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) CSIA provides a linkage between biogeochemical patterns and ecological dynamics. It allows the identification of stygofaunal food web structures and energy flows based on the metabolic pathway of specific amino groups. Concurrently, 14C provides complementary data on the carbon recycling and incorporation within the stygobiotic trophic webs. Changes in groundwater environmental conditions (e.g. aquifer recharge), and subsequent community adaptations, can be pinpointed via the measurement of the radiocarbon fingerprint of water, sediment and specimens. DNA analyses are a rapidly expanding approach in ecology. eDNA is mainly employed as a biomonitoring tool, while metabarcoding of individuals and/or gut contents provides insight into diet regimes. In all cases, the application of the approaches in combination provides more powerful data than any one alone. By combining quantitative (CSIA and 14C) and qualitative (eDNA and DNA metabarcoding) approaches via Bayesian Mixing Models (BMM), linkages can be made between community composition, energy and nutrient sources in the system, and trophic function. This suggested multidisciplinary design will contribute to a more thorough comprehension of the biogeochemical and ecological patterns within these undervalued but essential ecosystems. © 2019 Elsevier B.V.en_AU
dc.identifier.citationSaccò, M., Blyth, A., Bateman, P. W., Hua, Q., Mazumder, D., White, N., Humphreys, W. F., Laini, A., Griebler, C & Grice, K. (2019). New light in the dark-a proposed multidisciplinary framework for studying functional ecology of groundwater fauna. Science of the Total Environment, 662, 963-977. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.01.296en_AU
dc.identifier.issn0048-9697en_AU
dc.identifier.journaltitleScience of the Total Environmenten_AU
dc.identifier.pagination963-977en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.01.296en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttps://apo.ansto.gov.au/dspace/handle/10238/11060en_AU
dc.identifier.volume662en_AU
dc.language.isoenen_AU
dc.publisherElsevieren_AU
dc.subjectGround wateren_AU
dc.subjectEcologyen_AU
dc.subjectEcosystemsen_AU
dc.subjectUndergrounden_AU
dc.subjectStable isotopesen_AU
dc.subjectCarbon 14en_AU
dc.subjectSpecies diversityen_AU
dc.titleNew light in the dark - a proposed multidisciplinary framework for studying functional ecology of groundwater faunaen_AU
dc.typeJournal Articleen_AU
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