2023 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 5-7, 2023 • Cincinnati, OH
5/23/2018 | 9:15 AM - 9:30 AM | DISTRIBUTION OF HYPORHEIC FAUNA IN TEXAS, USA: HOW DOES LARGE-SCALE GEOLOGY AND FINE-SCALE HYDROLOGY INFLUENCE COMMUNITIES | 420 A
DISTRIBUTION OF HYPORHEIC FAUNA IN TEXAS, USA: HOW DOES LARGE-SCALE GEOLOGY AND FINE-SCALE HYDROLOGY INFLUENCE COMMUNITIES
As an ecotone, the hyporheic zone provides habitat for a unique assemblage of both epigean and groundwater-obligate invertebrates (stygobionts). Despite its importance, investigation of hyporheic communities has lagged behind that of epigean aquatic systems. This is certainly the case in Texas, U.S.A. where the hyporheic zone is almost completely uninvestigated despite the presence of a well-documented, highly diverse phreatic karst groundwater fauna, the presence of a number of economically important aquifers, and an expansive geography that encompasses several major biogeographic provinces. We surveyed a broad, E-W- transect across the state, collecting physicochemical and biological samples data from 133 samples from 31 hyporheic sites between 2015 and 2017.
The presence of macroinvertebrate stygobionts was strongly associated with hyporheic connectivity to phreatic karst aquifers. The current study has resulted in over 30 new occurrence records for 14 different species classified in Texas as species of greatest conservation need. For 12 of these species, this is the first record of occurrence outside of phreatic karst habitats (i.e springs, caves, and wells). Additionally, several taxa represent currently undescribed species, several of which also likely warrant classification as species of greatest conservation need.
- Groundwater
- Biodiversity
- Habitat
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Presenters/Authors
Benjamin Hutchins
(), Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Ben.Hutchins@tpwd.texas.gov;
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Aaron Swink
(), Texas State University, aps36@txstate.edu;
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Benjamin Schwartz
(), Texas State University, bs37@txstate.edu;
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