New occurrence records for stygobiontic invertebrates from the Edwards and Trinity aquifers in west-central Texas, USA

Nissen, Bradley D.; Devitt, Thomas J.; Bendik, Nathan F.; Gluesenkamp, Andrew G.; Gibson, Randy

doi:10.3897/subtbiol.28.29282

Cited by 12 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…However, more research is required to understand ecological consequences of surface and subterranean habitat for these salamanders. Unfortunately, the subterranean ecology of the Barton Springs segment of the Edwards Aquifer is largely undocumented; even basic research on the diversity and distribution of its fauna is scarce (but see Hutchins, 2018 ; Nissen et al, 2018 ), despite otherwise extensive study of its hydrogeology and geochemistry ( Hunt, Smith & Hauwert, 2019 and references therein).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Subterranean movement inferred by temporary emigration in Barton Springs salamanders (Eurycea sosorum)

Bendik¹,

Chamberlain²,

Devitt

et al. 2021

PeerJ

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Movement behavior is an important aspect of animal ecology but is challenging to study in species that are unobservable for some portion of their lives, such as those inhabiting subterranean environments. Using four years of robust-design capture-recapture data, we examined the probability of movement into subterranean habitat by a population of endangered Barton Springs salamanders (Eurycea sosorum), a species that inhabits both surface and subterranean groundwater habitats. We tested the effects of environmental variables and body size on survival and temporary emigration, using the latter as a measure of subterranean habitat use. Based on 2,046 observations of 1,578 individuals, we found that temporary emigration was higher for larger salamanders, 79% of which temporarily emigrated into subterranean habitat between primary sampling intervals, on average. Body size was a better predictor of temporary emigration and survival compared to environmental covariates, although coefficients from lower ranked models suggested turbidity and dissolved oxygen may influence salamander movement between the surface and subsurface. Surface population dynamics are partly driven by movement below ground and therefore surface abundance estimates represent a fraction of the superpopulation. As such, while surface habitat management remains an important conservation strategy for this species, periodic declines in apparent surface abundance do not necessarily indicate declines of the superpopulation associated with the spring habitat.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Subterranean movement inferred by temporary emigration in Barton Springs salamanders (Eurycea sosorum)

Bendik¹,

Chamberlain²,

Devitt

et al. 2021

PeerJ

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“…In streams, drift nets (0.45 by 0.30 m rectangular openings, 250 lm mesh) (Gibson et al 2008) were deployed and checked periodically (Diaz and Warren 2018). Well samples were taken using (1) bottle traps (Nissen et al 2018) that were baited with cotton substrate and pistachios or (2) drift nets placed on the outflow of flowing artesian wells. In some spring samples, the ''mop head'' technique (Hershler and Longley 1986b) was used.…”

Section: Sampling Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…After the colonization period, the mop head is removed from the spring orifice and placed in a tray of water, allowing snails to be removed by hand. Additional detail on this sampling method can be found in Nissen et al (2018). Stream, spring, and well samples were taken and preserved in 70-95% ethanol or isopropanol for identification.…”

Section: Sampling Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Expanding the Known Ranges of the Phreatic Snails (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Cochliopidae) of Texas, USA

Alvear

Diaz

Gibson

et al. 2020

Freshwater Mollusk Biology and Conservation

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The Edwards-Trinity Aquifer System of Texas, USA, one of the world's most ecologically diverse groundwater systems, contains 14 species (across seven genera) of small, poorly studied freshwater snails. Their underground habitat and microscopic size make them difficult to study and identify. Most published records are from original species descriptions, and some have not been seen since they were described more than 100 years ago. Here we use~150 new collections, including spring and hyporheic zone sampling from across the Texas portions of the Edwards-Trinity Aquifer System, to update the ranges of these species. Two species were very uncommon, if encountered at all; individuals that might be Phreatodrobia imitata were seen at one sampling location, and a single individual of P. punctata was encountered once. The most frequently encountered snail, P. nugax, can be highly abundant and is found across a wide range. Other notable findings include the rediscovery and greatly expanded range of Stygopyrgus bartonensis, the Barton Cavesnail, as well as range extensions of 100 km or more for several species.

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“…The distribution of Stygobromus in Texas is mapped in Figure 1. In the Edwards Plateau and Balcones Escarpment of central Texas, USA, 9 Stygobromus species are documented alongside diverse assemblages of stygobiontic crustaceans (Holsinger 1967;Gibson et al 2008;Hutchins 2018;Nissen et al 2018). Four central Texas Stygobromus species belong to the tenuis group: S. balconis (Hulbricht, 1943), S. reddelli , S. russelli (Holsinger, 1967), and S. bifurcatus (Holsinger, 1967).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stygobromus bakeri, a new species of groundwater amphipod (Amphipoda, Crangonyctidae) associated with the Trinity and Edwards aquifers of central Texas, USA

Gibson¹,

Hutchins²,

Krejca³

et al. 2021

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A new stygobitic groundwater amphipod species, Stygobromus bakerisp. nov., is described from 4 central Texas limestone karst springs; John Knox Spring (Comal County), Jacob’s Well (Hays County), Mormon Spring (Travis County) and Salado Springs (Bell County). This species belongs to the predominately western Nearctic hubbsi species group of Stygobromus and differs from other species in the group by gnathopod 1 with row of 4 to 5 setae posterior to the defining angle, pereopods 6 and 7 with broadly expanded bases and distinct distoposterior lobes, gnathopods 1 and 2 with 2 rows of 3 singly inserted setae on the inner palm, and uropod 3 with single, slightly distal peduncular seta. Habitat, sympatric groundwater species, and conservation issues are discussed.

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New occurrence records for stygobiontic invertebrates from the Edwards and Trinity aquifers in west-central Texas, USA

Cited by 12 publications

References 22 publications

Subterranean movement inferred by temporary emigration in Barton Springs salamanders (Eurycea sosorum)

Subterranean movement inferred by temporary emigration in Barton Springs salamanders (Eurycea sosorum)

Expanding the Known Ranges of the Phreatic Snails (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Cochliopidae) of Texas, USA

Stygobromus bakeri, a new species of groundwater amphipod (Amphipoda, Crangonyctidae) associated with the Trinity and Edwards aquifers of central Texas, USA

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