Unveiling ecosystem dynamics of three Western Australian groundwaters through functional ecology
This research project, part of the WABSI Subterranean Fauna Research Program, focuses on designing novel functionally-based biomonitoring protocols of microbial and stygofauna communities.
Investigations of microbial and stygofaunal communities are undertaken with a multidisciplinary design including hydrogeochemical assessment tools (isotopes, nutrients, fluorescence analysis) combined with molecular tests (DNA metabarcoding, genomics).
This approach allows the investigation of the functional role of groundwater-dependent ecosystems such as wetlands and surficial vegetation, biomes that have been shown to be linked to groundwater ecosystems.
Expected outcomes:
Expected outcomes include improved ecological modelling of the crucial links between microbes and stygofauna under different hydrogeological conditions (i.e., alluvial regional aquifer vs constrained island aquifer) and at ecosystems level. The project also aims to provide empirically-driven enhanced understanding of stygofaunal response to changes in environmental conditions in groundwater and anthropogenic impacts across a range of habitats. Moreover, the characterisation of the functional links between subsurface and surficial biomes, addressing knowledge gaps around these interactions and their
influence on subterranean ecosystems are sought.
The three overall deliverables of this project are:
- Empirically-based protocol to assess the functional health of groundwater ecosystems
- Design of improved ecological status indicators for subterranean biotic surveys
- Development of a novel holistic design for the study of groundwater ecosystem
Industry partners: Chevron, Rio Tinto, Fortescue, BHP
Facilities: TrEnD Lab (Curtin), WAOIGC (Curtin), SILVER Laboratory (University of Vienna), ANSTO
WANT TO ENGAGE WITH US?
We seek industry partners that want to invest in leading research that will deliver real world outcomes, increase knowledge and help lift certainty to enable more informed management decisions.
We also invite academic institutions and others to engage with this program.
Email us on subtfauna@wabsi.org.au
Or, if you would like to learn more: Contact us to see how we can help.