Wells provide a distorted view of life in the aquifer: implications for sampling, monitoring and assessment of groundwater ecosystems.

ABSTRACT: When compared to surface ecosystems, groundwater sampling has unique constraints, including limited access to ecosystems through wells. In order to monitor groundwater, a detailed understanding of groundwater biota and what biological sampling of wells truly reflects, is paramount. This study aims to address this uncertainty, comparing the composition of biota in groundwater wells prior to and after purging, with samples collected prior to purging reflecting a potentially artificial environment and samples collected after purging representing the surrounding aquifer. This study uses DNA community profiling (metabarcoding) of 16S rDNA and 18S rDNA, combined with traditional stygofauna sampling methods, to characterise groundwater biota from four catchments within eastern Australia. Aquifer

SUBMITTER: Korbel K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5244371 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature