Stygofauna enhance prokaryotic transport in groundwater ecosystems
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Date
2016
Authors
Smith, Renee J
Paterson, James
Launer, Elise
Tobe, Shanan S
Morello, Eliesa
Leijs, Remko
Marri, Shashikanth
Mitchell, James Gordon
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Nature Publishing Group
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Copyright © 2016, The Author(s)
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The Author(s)
Abstract
More than 97% of the world’s freshwater reserves are found in aquifers, making groundwater one of
the most important resources on the planet. Prokaryotic communities in groundwater underpin the
turnover of energy and matter while also maintaining groundwater purity. Thus, knowledge of microbial
transport in the subsurface is crucial for maintaining groundwater health. Here, we describe for the
first time the importance of stygofauna as vectors for prokaryotes. The “hitch-hiking” prokaryotes
associated with stygofauna may be up to 5 orders of magnitude higher in abundance and transported
up to 34× faster than bulk groundwater flow. We also demonstrate that prokaryotic diversity
associated with stygofauna may be higher than that of the surrounding groundwater. Stygofauna are
a newly recognized prokaryotic niche in groundwater ecosystems that have the potential to transport
remediating, water purifying and pathogenic prokaryotes. Therefore, stygofauna may influence
ecosystem dynamics and health at a microbial level, and at a larger scale could be a new source of
prokaryotic diversity in groundwater ecosystems.
Description
Copyright © 2016, The Author(s)
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Citation
Smith RJ, Paterson JS, Launer E, et al. Stygofauna enhance prokaryotic transport in groundwater ecosystems. Scientific Reports. 2016;6:32738. doi:10.1038/srep32738.