Review of survey and sampling protocols

Reliable surveys are fundamental to understanding which subterranean fauna species are present and estimating their distribution. However, the underground environment presents unique challenges. Sampling often depends on drill holes established for mineral exploration or water supply, while low capture rates can make surveys resource-intensive and difficult to interpret.

This project reviews historical data to understand how effective current sampling approaches are at detecting subterranean fauna, including both stygofauna and troglofauna. The findings will help identify where existing approaches perform well, where limitations remain and how survey effort can be better targeted.

The project aims to support a more consistent sampling strategy that optimises the likelihood of detecting subterranean fauna within a defined area. Improving the efficiency, repeatability and effectiveness of survey methods can strengthen the evidence available for environmental assessment and monitoring.

Better survey protocols can also reduce unnecessary duplication of effort and help ensure that data collected across different projects can be more readily compared. This contributes to greater consistency and confidence when assessing subterranean fauna and their potential responses to development and environmental change.