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Global overview on groundwater fauna
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  • Fabien Koch,
  • Philipp Blum,
  • Kathryn Korbel,
  • Kathrin Menberg
Fabien Koch
Karlsruher Institut fur Technologie Bibliothek

Corresponding Author:fabien.koch@kit.edu

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Philipp Blum
Karlsruher Institut fur Technologie Bibliothek
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Kathryn Korbel
Macquarie University
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Kathrin Menberg
Karlsruher Institut fur Technologie Bibliothek
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Abstract

Groundwater is an important global resource, providing water for irrigation, industry, geothermal uses, and potable water all over the world. Moreover, groundwater contains the world’s largest terrestrial freshwater biome. Groundwater faunal communities undertake important ecosystem services including the provision of clean water. Despite this, investigations on the spatial and temporal variations and the influence of environmental parameters on these organisms, are still rare. The aim of this study is to provide a global overview on groundwater fauna (stygofauna) research, including the historical evolution of research topics and development of sampling methods. To achieve this, an extensive review of accessible groundwater fauna data was conducted. Over time, there has been an exponential increase in the number of studies together with changing paradigms in the research focus, particularly as sampling methods have developed and molecular analyses become common. Studies on groundwater fauna are spatially uneven and are dominated by studies in Europe and Australia, with few studies in Africa, Asia and the Americas. This has resulted in a potential geographic and climatically biased global view of stygofauna and groundwater ecology. In the future, a more evenly distributed sampling effort in underrepresented areas is necessary to enable global studies, thus allowing a more comprehensive perspective on stygofauna biodiversity, roles, and functional significances. This is increasingly important with the accumulating knowledge of the sensitivities of these ecosystems to anthropogenic activities, including climate change, and is fundamental to effective management of these ecosystems.
22 Dec 2022Submitted to Ecohydrology
22 Dec 2022Submission Checks Completed
22 Dec 2022Assigned to Editor
06 Jan 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
08 Jan 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
01 Jun 2023Editorial Decision: Revise Major
02 Aug 20231st Revision Received
03 Aug 2023Submission Checks Completed
03 Aug 2023Assigned to Editor
03 Aug 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
30 Aug 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
06 Nov 2023Editorial Decision: Accept