Assessing stygofaunal resilience

Stygofauna live in groundwater environments where conditions can vary naturally and may also be affected by human activities. Yet there is limited understanding of their tolerance to changing conditions and the factors that influence their ability to survive and recover. This project addresses that gap through ecotoxicological, metabolic and behavioural research.

The research examines how stygofauna respond to different environmental stressors, including changes in physicochemical conditions and contaminants such as PFAS. It also investigates survival ranges and community-level responses, providing a stronger evidence base for understanding when environmental change may result in ecological impacts.

The project is also testing approaches that could improve how stygofauna are monitored and assessed. This includes developing robust protocols for toxicity testing, improving methods for handling and transporting specimens, and investigating environmental RNA (eRNA) as a tool for detecting functional changes at the community level.

Together, these approaches aim to provide more sensitive and informative ways to understand the condition of groundwater communities. The findings can support more targeted biomonitoring and help decision-makers assess potential impacts with greater confidence.