Changing Paradigms in Groundwater Ecology – from the ‘Living Fossils' Tradition to the ‘New Groundwater Ecology’

Abstract

Groundwater ecology merged during the second part of the 20 th century with modern ecological practice after having adopted the 'ecosystem concept'. The latter was first applied to karstic systems and separately for alluvial non-consolidated aquifers along surface running waters. Today groundwater ecosystems are studied within a multi-and transdisciplinary framework at various spatial and temporal scales by experts dealing with microbiology, the ecology and systematics of meio-and macro-fauna, geochemistry, hydrogeology and mathematical modelling. A further paradigmatic change occured with the recognition that subterranean assemblages of organisms are formed by both hypogean and epigean taxa. The biological diversity in subterranean ecosystems can be much higher than earlier thought and may even exceed surface diversity in some taxa. This largely unrecognized biodiversity in many cases deserves environmental protection. A third phase in the development of groundwater ecology has occured over the last 15 years with the incorporation of socio-economic research topics within groundwater ecology (GIBERT et al., 1994a) and in this sense today we have the "New Groundwater Ecology". We should cling to our traditions and do what we can to keep the understanding of the world inwhich we live as a resource for all humankind

Differences between groundwater fauna in shallow and in deep intergranular aquifers as an indication of different characteristics of habitats and hydraulic connections

“…This situation has changed over the last three decades, as groundwater ecology research has intensified Schmidt et al, 2007;Gibert and Culver, 2009;Hahn and Fuchs, 2009;Larned, 2012). Ecological studies of groundwater ecosystems, in intergranular aquifers in particular, developed rapidly during the 1990's (Gibert et al, 1990;Danielopol et al, 2001;Gibert, 2001;Gibert and Deharveng, 2002;Hancock et al, 2005;Danielopol and Griebler, 2008). Moreover, the important functional role of epigean, as well as hypogean fauna and microbes, in groundwater, in transformation, decomposition, and recycling of organic material and nutrients, has been widely recognised (Vervier et al, 1992;Claret et al, 1999;Griebler and Lueders, 2009).…”

About faunal life in Austrian aquifers – historical background and current developments

“…But only the fauna has continuously been in the focus of groundwater biology since then. While applied microbiology became better established as early as the 1950s (Griebler et al, 2014), fundamental microbiology has only been the focus as off the 1980's (Danielopol and Griebler, 2008). Successively to olm's dis covery, groundwater biological research was concerned with the investigations of cave and vertebrates until around the turn of the last century when wells, tap water and invertebrates started to receive the attention of groundwater researchers (Brehm, 1930).…”

“…However, this did not open a new area in biology. Groundwater biology's actual origin dates back to the 17th century with investigations of both the fauna (discovery of the olm -Proteus anguineus by Valvasor"in 1689" in Belles, 1992 and the microbiota (Danielopol and Griebler 2008). But only the fauna has continuously been in the focus of groundwater biology since then.…”

“…Ecotoxicological research using animals has only sparsely been applied for Austrian groundwaters (Helma et al, 1998) to our present knowledge. Finally, the importance of the groundwater fauna as an indicator of surface-subsurface connectivity, environmental status, as well as the need of the underground habitats' protection, in particular with regard to providing water quality, but also as a right on its own, have been emphasised by Austrian groundwater scientists (Danielopol et al, 2003;Danielopol et al, 2004;Danielopol and Griebler, 2008).…”

“…aspects of taxonomy, systematics and evolution), groundwater biology has begun to assess the relationships between organismal patterns and environ mental conditions (= ecology) since around the 1950´s (Danielopol and Griebler, 2008) in order to better under stand the driving mechanisms behind faunal distribution patterns. This relational approach is in fact the basis of biological groundwater investigations (microbiota, fauna) to date and has also been extended to discover the potential response of organisms to anthropogenic alterations (pollution, with drawal of water, obstruction, conventional agri culture practices) and detect potential threats thereof to the underground organisms and habitats.…”