Groundwater Amphipods of the Hyporheic Interstitial: A Case Study from Luxembourg and The Greater Region
Hyporheic interstitials are ecologically dynamic and often neglected aquatic environments. In this study, groundwater amphipods (Niphargidae, Pseudoniphargidae and Crangonyctidae) were sampled in hyporheic interstitials throughout Luxembourg and The Greater Region and specimens were analyzed by DNA...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-03-01
|
| Series: | Diversity |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/15/3/411 |
| _version_ | 1827750256375234560 |
|---|---|
| author | Dieter Weber Alexander M. Weigand |
| author_facet | Dieter Weber Alexander M. Weigand |
| author_sort | Dieter Weber |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Hyporheic interstitials are ecologically dynamic and often neglected aquatic environments. In this study, groundwater amphipods (Niphargidae, Pseudoniphargidae and Crangonyctidae) were sampled in hyporheic interstitials throughout Luxembourg and The Greater Region and specimens were analyzed by DNA barcoding. Sites characterized by gravel or coarse sand and high flow velocities of incoming water were the most species- and specimen-rich. A total of 11 species were detected, of which the <i>Niphargus aquilex</i> lineage EF of the <i>N. aquilex</i> cryptic species complex and juveniles of <i>N. schellenbergi</i> dominated the data set, but an unknown lineage of the <i>N. aquilex</i>-complex was also found. Some regions appeared to be devoid of groundwater amphipods. We hypothesize that underlying sandstone formations resulting in low sediment porosity may prevent physical colonization, but also that historical water pollution may have a long-lasting effect, either through the persistence of contaminants in the sediment or low recolonization rates of affected populations. In summary, our approach expanded regional species inventories, confirmed known occurrences, and validated previously questionable or historical morphology-based detections. In addition, the collection of absence data provided valuable insights into local extinctions. Finally, DNA-based distribution data are needed to gather information on the ecological affinities of groundwater amphipods to understudied hyporheic interstitial environments. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:41:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a1ce6922ab3a4661bfc6accd22d9103a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-2818 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:41:04Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Diversity |
| spelling | doaj.art-a1ce6922ab3a4661bfc6accd22d9103a2023-11-17T10:38:15ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182023-03-0115341110.3390/d15030411Groundwater Amphipods of the Hyporheic Interstitial: A Case Study from Luxembourg and The Greater RegionDieter Weber0Alexander M. Weigand1Musée National d’Histoire Naturelle de Luxembourg, 25 Rue Münster, L-2160 Luxembourg, LuxembourgMusée National d’Histoire Naturelle de Luxembourg, 25 Rue Münster, L-2160 Luxembourg, LuxembourgHyporheic interstitials are ecologically dynamic and often neglected aquatic environments. In this study, groundwater amphipods (Niphargidae, Pseudoniphargidae and Crangonyctidae) were sampled in hyporheic interstitials throughout Luxembourg and The Greater Region and specimens were analyzed by DNA barcoding. Sites characterized by gravel or coarse sand and high flow velocities of incoming water were the most species- and specimen-rich. A total of 11 species were detected, of which the <i>Niphargus aquilex</i> lineage EF of the <i>N. aquilex</i> cryptic species complex and juveniles of <i>N. schellenbergi</i> dominated the data set, but an unknown lineage of the <i>N. aquilex</i>-complex was also found. Some regions appeared to be devoid of groundwater amphipods. We hypothesize that underlying sandstone formations resulting in low sediment porosity may prevent physical colonization, but also that historical water pollution may have a long-lasting effect, either through the persistence of contaminants in the sediment or low recolonization rates of affected populations. In summary, our approach expanded regional species inventories, confirmed known occurrences, and validated previously questionable or historical morphology-based detections. In addition, the collection of absence data provided valuable insights into local extinctions. Finally, DNA-based distribution data are needed to gather information on the ecological affinities of groundwater amphipods to understudied hyporheic interstitial environments.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/15/3/411subterranean biologyhyporheosDNA barcodinggroundwaterAmphipoda |
| spellingShingle | Dieter Weber Alexander M. Weigand Groundwater Amphipods of the Hyporheic Interstitial: A Case Study from Luxembourg and The Greater Region Diversity subterranean biology hyporheos DNA barcoding groundwater Amphipoda |
| title | Groundwater Amphipods of the Hyporheic Interstitial: A Case Study from Luxembourg and The Greater Region |
| title_full | Groundwater Amphipods of the Hyporheic Interstitial: A Case Study from Luxembourg and The Greater Region |
| title_fullStr | Groundwater Amphipods of the Hyporheic Interstitial: A Case Study from Luxembourg and The Greater Region |
| title_full_unstemmed | Groundwater Amphipods of the Hyporheic Interstitial: A Case Study from Luxembourg and The Greater Region |
| title_short | Groundwater Amphipods of the Hyporheic Interstitial: A Case Study from Luxembourg and The Greater Region |
| title_sort | groundwater amphipods of the hyporheic interstitial a case study from luxembourg and the greater region |
| topic | subterranean biology hyporheos DNA barcoding groundwater Amphipoda |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/15/3/411 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT dieterweber groundwateramphipodsofthehyporheicinterstitialacasestudyfromluxembourgandthegreaterregion AT alexandermweigand groundwateramphipodsofthehyporheicinterstitialacasestudyfromluxembourgandthegreaterregion |