Dr Louise Weaver1, Dr Annette Bolton1, Ms Judith Webber1, Ms Prudence Gowo2, Mr Hayden Masterton1, Dr Kim Handley2, Ms Panan Sitthirit1, Mr Phil Abraham1, Mr Murray Close1
1ESR Ltd, Christchurch, New Zealand, 2University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
Biography:
Dr Louise Weaver is the technical lead for ESR's Environmental Microbial Solutions group. Louise leads research to investigate the diversity of groundwater systems, from micro- to macro-scale, to improve the understanding of the biological function of groundwater to remove contaminants. Louise's team use a multi-disciplinary approach, including next-generation molecular tools to improve understanding of groundwater ecosystems and develop novel stress markers. This research specifically aims to protect source water for our drinking water now and in the face of climate change stress.
Abstract:
Globally, groundwater is increasingly recognized as both a vital resource and a taonga, with its significance highlighted by the climate crisis's focus on water quantity and quality. Traditionally viewed merely as a resource for uses like drinking water, livestock, and irrigation, groundwater protection measures have mainly focused on end uses rather than the groundwater itself. Our research aims to close this gap in knowledge by identifying biological diversity changes across Aotearoa.
We will present findings on the diversity of micro- and macro-fauna in groundwater, examining their ecological roles and correlations with physico-chemical parameters across different aquifers. Seasonal shifts in this diversity and their implications for future climate scenarios will also be discussed.
To capture a broad range of taxa, we utilized environmental DNA (eDNA), specimen collection, and microbial culture techniques, following the protocols previously established between ESR and University of Auckland. Laboratory analyses included taxonomic identification, eDNA sequencing via Illumina MiSeq targeting 16s, 18s and ITS2, bacterial culturing, and water chemistry assessments.
Our findings reveal diverse microorganisms with high but decreasing abundance with depth, and macrofaunal diversity influenced by both depth and lithology. Seasonal variations were noted in fungal presence, with less change in microbial and macrofaunal diversity. The results underscore the need for temporal studies to better understand groundwater ecosystems and predict their responses to land use and climate changes.