Gavin Rees1, Dr Stefanie Oberprieler2, Dr Daryl Nielsen1, Garth Watson1, Dr Michael Shackleton3, Dr Jenny Davis2
1Csiro, Albury, Australia, 2Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Australia, 3La Trobe University, Wodonga, Australia
Groundwater biota represent important biodiversity values as well as providing an indication of aquatic health of aquifers and as a consequence, protection of groundwater -dependent ecosystems (GDEs) has now been recognised for over 20 years. The Beetaloo sub-Basin and Roper River system overlies several major units of the Cambrian Limestone Aquifer (CLA) and could potentially be host to GDEs. The region is one of the most prospective areas for shale gas in Australia. Potential risks to GDEs are poorly understood due to limited research and analysis on groundwater systems. We carried out a broad spatial pilot survey of bores and used a combination of eDNA analysis and direct net sampling to examine groundwater for the presence of stygofauna. Net sampling showed that Beetaloo styogfaunal samples were dominated by crustaceans, with a species of blind shrimp the likely top predator. eDNA analysis had greater success in detecting organisms than from net sampling alone. eDNA analysis was important given the diverse types of bores that could be accessed. For example, when sampling bores that were capped with taps and net sampling was not possible, and those with water depth that required vigorous pumping, potentially destroying animals.
Biography:
Gavin is a microbial ecologist and has worked at the CSIRO for the last 20+ years examining freshwater ecosystems. His interest in broader ecological systems and how different organisms respond to environmental conditions led him to combine classical ecological methods with eDNA techniques in a variety of ways so as to measure community responses. Much of his work has been in rivers, but recently moved to examining groundwater systems.