Groundwater contains distinctive animals known as stygobites that are adapted to live in the dark.
Stygobites have not been well investigated in the UK: their occurrence and the controls on their distribution are poorly understood. In addition, their role in providing ecosystem services and their sensitivity to environmental change are still a matter of speculation.
BGS scientists work with a range of partners to address these and related issues.
A public water supply spring for Welsh Water called Ffynnon Asaph. It is pictured here with an ecological drift net in place to sample for stygobites. BGS © UKRI.
Distribution and controls on stygobites
With the help of the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology and Roehampton University, BGS has started the first systematic, UK-wide survey of stygobites. We are helping Roehampton University with a more focused investigation of the distribution and habitat requirements of stygobites in Devon and Dorset, and are undertaking intensive sampling for stygobites at a few localities in the Berkshire Downs to better understand the factors controlling the distribution of groundwater species.
Further reading
Groundwater Ecology: Extending our understanding of biodiversity in the UK. Presentation given by Louise Maurice at the symposium celebrating the 175th anniversary of BGS in 2010.
Robertson, A L, Smith, J W N, Johns, T, and Proudlove, G S. 2009. The distribution and diversity of stygobites in Great Britain: an analysis to inform groundwater management. Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology, Vol. 42(3), 359–368. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1144/1470-9236/08-046
Gilbet, J, and Culver, D C (editors). 2009. Assessing and conserving groundwater biodiversity. Freshwater Biology, Vol. 54(4), 639–648. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2427.2009.02202.x
Gibert, J, Brancelj, A, Camacho, A, Castellarini, F, De Broyer, C, Deharveng, L, Dole-Olivier, M-J, Douady, C, Galassi, D, Malard, F, Martin, P, Michel, G, Sket, B, Stoch, F, Trontelj, P, and Valdecasas, A G. 2005. Groundwater Biodiversity. Protocols for the ASsessment and Conservation of Aquatic Life In the Subsurface (PASCALIS): overview and main results. 39–52 in World Subterranean Biodiversity. Gibert, J (editor). DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.1.2306.1528
Contact
Please contact BGS Enquiries (enquiries@bgs.ac.uk) for further information.