Mattia Saccò (Author), Stefano Mammola (Author), Florian Altermatt (Author), Roman Alther (Author), Rossano Bolpagni (Author), Anton Brancelj (Author), David Brankovits (Author), Cene Fišer (Author), Vasilis Gerovasileiou (Author), Špela Borko (Author), Maja Zagmajster (Author)

Abstract

Groundwater is a vital ecosystem of the global water cycle, hosting unique biodiversity and providing essential services to societies. Despite being the largest unfrozen freshwater resource, in a period of depletion by extraction and pollution, groundwater environments have been repeatedly overlooked in global biodiversity conservation agendas. Disregarding the importance of groundwater as an ecosystem ignores its critical role in preserving surface biomes. To foster timely global conservation of groundwater, we propose elevating the concept of keystone species into the realm of ecosystems, claiming groundwater as a keystone ecosystem that influences the integrity of many dependent ecosystems. Our global analysis shows that over half of land surface areas (52.6%) has a medium-to-high interaction with groundwater, reaching up to 74.9% when deserts and high mountains are excluded. We postulate that the intrinsic transboundary features of groundwater are critical for shifting perspectives towards more holistic approaches in aquatic ecology and beyond. Furthermore, we propose eight key themes to develop a science-policy integrated groundwater conservation agenda. Given ecosystems above and below the ground intersect at many levels, considering groundwater as an essential component of planetary health is pivotal to reduce biodiversity loss and buffer against climate change.

Keywords

podzemne vode;ključni ekosistem;površinsko-podzemne povezave;groundwater;keystone ecosystem;surface-subterranean connectivity;

Data

Language: English
Year of publishing:
Typology: 1.02 - Review Article
Organization: UL BF - Biotechnical Faculty
UDC: 574
COBISS: 177394947 Link will open in a new window
ISSN: 1365-2486
Views: 42
Downloads: 64
Average score: 0 (0 votes)
Metadata: JSON JSON-RDF JSON-LD TURTLE N-TRIPLES XML RDFA MICRODATA DC-XML DC-RDF RDF

Other data

Secondary language: Slovenian
Secondary keywords: podzemne vode;ključni ekosistem;površinsko-podzemne povezave;
Source comment: Nasl. z nasl. zaslona; Opis vira z dne 14. 12. 2023; Št. članka: 17066;
Pages: str. 1-20
Volume: ǂVol. ǂ30
Issue: ǂiss. ǂ1
Chronology: 2024
DOI: 10.1111/gcb.17066
ID: 24676386