Original paper
Do bacteria and nutrients control faunal assemblages in alluvial aquifers?
Mauclaire, L.; Gibert, J.; Claret, C.
Archiv für Hydrobiologie Volume 148 Number 1 (2000), p. 85 - 98
45 references
published: Apr 13, 2000
DOI: 10.1127/archiv-hydrobiol/148/2000/85
ArtNo. ESP141014801007, Price: 29.00 €
Abstract
Bacterial abundance and activity were studied at the scale of a regional aquifer. The focus was on spatial and temporal distribution patterns in relationship with groundwater quality and with potential food resources for meio- and macrofauna. Six wells located along an agricultural/urban gradient were sampled at three dates. The physical and chemical characteristics of the ground water showed few differences among wells except for nitrate content which was higher in the agricultural area. Metal contents in water and sediments indicated a chronic metal contamination of this aquifer. Abundances of bacteria in the water (total and ETS-active bacteria) were homogeneous throughout the aquifer but varied over time. These variations were correlated with DOC content. The faunal abundances varied according to wells and dates, and correlated with total number of ETS-active bacteria. At all sampling dates assemblages were dominated by the same taxa: oligochaetes in the northern part of the aquifer and niphargid amphipods in the southern part of the aquifer.
Keywords
bacteria • nutrients • faunal assemblages • alluvial aquifers