Conservation Studies on Groundwaters’ Pollution: Challenges and Perspectives for Stygofauna Communities

Abstract

Assessing the effects of pollution in groundwaters is recently considered among the most relevant aims for subterranean biology; with this perspective, we aim to provide examples of the most relevant effects that pollution may cause on stygofauna community and underline patterns deserving further investigations. We retrieved different cases in which pollution caused alteration of groundwater trophic webs, favored invasions by epigean mesopredators, damaged stygobiont keystone species, and promoted interspecific competition between stygobionts and epigean animals. The results and the remarks derived from our perspective review underline that pollution may play multifaceted effects on groundwaters communities, and the paucity of information that exists on community-level changes and threats underlines the necessity for further studies.

Towards evidence‐based conservation of subterranean ecosystems

“…To date, conservation of subterranean ecosystems has been dominated by problem‐based studies focused on identifying the main drivers associated with subterranean biodiversity decline (Mammola et al ., 2019a; Gerovasileiou & Bianchi, 2021). For example, we have elucidated the ecological impacts of polluted surface waters percolating underground (Di Lorenzo et al ., 2015, 2021; Manenti et al ., 2021), the long‐term consequences of climate change on specialised subterranean organisms adapted to thermally stable conditions (Mammola et al ., 2019c; Pallarés et al ., 2020a,b; Colado et al ., 2022), and some of the negative impacts that pathogens and alien species can cause to subterranean ecosystems (Howarth et al ., 2007; Wynne et al ., 2014; Howarth & Stone, 2020; Hoyt, Kilpatrick & Langwig, 2021).…”

Stygofaunal diversity and ecological sustainability of coastal groundwater ecosystems in a changing climate: The Australian paradigm

“…Therefore, alterations to environmental conditions are expected to increase the likelihood of community change or even extinction. However, the absolute tolerances of stygofauna to aquifer disturbance remain poorly understood and it is likely that some environments, communities, and species will be more resilient than others (Jones et al, 2021) other contamination such as road run-off and, in special cases, well casing failures in coal seam gas and shale gas extraction industries (Mammola et al, 2019;Manenti et al, 2021;SOE, 2011).…”

“…However, the absolute tolerances of stygofauna to aquifer disturbance remain poorly understood and it is likely that some environments, communities, and species will be more resilient than others (Jones et al, 2021). Potential threats to stygofauna include: groundwater extraction; saltwater intrusion; groundwater re‐injection; changes to the land surface and runoff, reduced infiltration and aquifer recharge; clearing of vegetation changing carbon and nutrient inputs to groundwater; contamination of groundwater through sewage, fertiliser use; spills or deliberate application of industrial chemicals, pesticides, and hydrocarbons; other contamination such as road run‐off and, in special cases, well casing failures in coal seam gas and shale gas extraction industries (Mammola et al, 2019; Manenti et al, 2021; SOE, 2011).…”

“…Contamination of groundwater has obvious implications for humans and is well studied from a human health perspective (Bertrand et al, 2022). However, the effects of contamination on groundwater dependent ecosystems are overall poorly documented (Manenti et al, 2021). In Australia, protection of groundwater resources is legislated at the national and state level (for examples see DLWC, 1995; EPA, 1970).…”

Comparative phylogeography of two troglobitic Coleoptera (Leiodidae, Leptodirini) species from Romania based on mitochondrial DNA

“…These, with their specific climatic and environmental requirements and generally limited dispersal capacity, are particularly vulnerable to extinction (Myers et al 2000;Lamoreux et al 2006). Obligate subterranean species, cave-adapted so called troglobionts, are particularly vulnerable to the pollution produced on the surface, which percolates soil and layers of limestone, contaminating the subterranean habitats (Wood and Perkins 2002;Manenti et al 2021). Subterranean environments are inhabited by a specialized fauna living in relatively stable conditions that creates a unique biological laboratory where evolutionary and ecological processes can be studied in situ (Mammola 2019).…”