Journal article
Stygofauna enhance prokaryotic transport in groundwater ecosystems
Scientific Reports, Vol.6, Article number: 32738
2016
Abstract
More than 97% of the world’s freshwater reserves are found in aquifers, making groundwater one of the most important resources on the planet. Prokaryotic communities in groundwater underpin the turnover of energy and matter while also maintaining groundwater purity. Thus, knowledge of microbial transport in the subsurface is crucial for maintaining groundwater health. Here, we describe for the first time the importance of stygofauna as vectors for prokaryotes. The “hitch-hiking” prokaryotes associated with stygofauna may be up to 5 orders of magnitude higher in abundance and transported up to 34× faster than bulk groundwater flow. We also demonstrate that prokaryotic diversity associated with stygofauna may be higher than that of the surrounding groundwater. Stygofauna are a newly recognized prokaryotic niche in groundwater ecosystems that have the potential to transport remediating, water purifying and pathogenic prokaryotes. Therefore, stygofauna may influence ecosystem dynamics and health at a microbial level, and at a larger scale could be a new source of prokaryotic diversity in groundwater ecosystems.
Details
- Title
- Stygofauna enhance prokaryotic transport in groundwater ecosystems
- Authors/Creators
- R.J. Smith (Author/Creator) - Flinders UniversityJ.S. Paterson (Author/Creator) - Flinders UniversityE. Launer (Author/Creator) - Flinders UniversityS.S. Tobe (Author/Creator) - Arcadia UniversityE. Morello (Author/Creator) - Flinders UniversityR. Leijs (Author/Creator) - South Australian MuseumS. Marri (Author/Creator) - Flinders UniversityJ.G. Mitchell (Author/Creator) - Flinders University
- Publication Details
- Scientific Reports, Vol.6, Article number: 32738
- Publisher
- Springer Nature
- Identifiers
- 991005541646207891
- Copyright
- © 2019 Springer Nature Publishing AG
- Murdoch Affiliation
- Murdoch University
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Citation topics
- 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology
- 3.64 Phylogenetics & Genomics
- 3.64.1940 Subterranean Biodiversity
- Web Of Science research areas
- Microbiology
- ESI research areas
- Environment/Ecology