Thesis
The impact of declining groundwater levels on Stygofauna communities in the Leeuwin naturaliste ridge cave systems, Western Australia
Honours, Murdoch University
2012
Abstract
Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems (GDE 19s) are intrinsically connected to rainfall and groundwater for survival. Many ecosystems are becoming increasingly threatened due to the accelerating pressures of climate change and disturbances to connecting ecosystems. This thesis examined the structural changes of the Threatened Ecological Communities (TEC 19s) living within the GDE of Leeuwin Naturaliste Ridge (LNR) and Yanchep, Western Australia, as well as water quality of each of these cave systems. Multidimensional scaling, Simper analysis and BIOENV techniques were used to characterize and compare water quality, quantity and community structure. It was found that each cave contained a distinct faunal community contribution and that three caves of LNR were distinct in their ionic compositions. Factors that may have contributed to the biological and physical differentiation of these caves include the extensive evolutionary and hydrogeological development of each cave. Threats to cave systems were also identified, including climate change induced rainfall decline and anthropogenic stressors. Finally, management strategies for future conservation were suggested. Overall, reduced groundwater levels induced by rainfall decline seemed to have an important effect on cave TEC.
Details
- Title
- The impact of declining groundwater levels on Stygofauna communities in the Leeuwin naturaliste ridge cave systems, Western Australia
- Authors/Creators
- Stacey Chilcott
- Contributors
- Belinda Robson (Supervisor)Jane Chambers (Supervisor)Stefan Eberhard (Supervisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Murdoch University; Honours
- Identifiers
- 991005545385807891
- Murdoch Affiliation
- School of Environmental Science
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis
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