Spatial Gradients and Food Web Structure of Groundwater Communities

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dc.contributor.advisorNowlin, Weston
dc.contributor.authorCorrington, Chase
dc.contributor.committeeMemberHutchins, Benjamin
dc.contributor.committeeMemberSchwartz, Benjamin
dc.date.accessioned2022-04-18T20:52:46Z
dc.date.available2022-04-18T20:52:46Z
dc.date.issued2022-05
dc.description.abstractThe Edwards Aquifer (EA) and its springs in Texas are some of the most biologically unique and diverse subterranean-surface coupled systems on the planet, containing many endemic and endangered crenic and hypogean species. However, relatively little is known about the spatial patterns of diversity and trophic ecology of groundwater dependent species in the northern (Barton Springs) segment of the EA. Microbial chemolithoautotrophy (MCLA) is an important source of organic matter (OM) for some aquatic organisms in the southern EA, but the importance of MCLA is unknown in the northern EA. We examined spatial patterns of geochemistry, stable isotope values of particulate OM, and stygofaunal community structure across the northern EA. We also examined the diet of the endangered crenic Barton Springs salamander (Eurycea sosorum) and subterranean Austin Blind salamander (Eurycea waterlooensis) at Eliza Springs (a major spring) using stable isotopes. We found spatial variation in geochemistry in the northern EA, but OM isotopic composition did not vary with geochemistry, suggesting that MCLA was not a major contributor to OM production. Dietary mixing models found that copepods were the most important diet item for both salamander species, with ~60% both species’ diets consisting of hypogean organisms. Isotopic niche analyses indicate substantial overlap between salamander species, which has conservation implications for these endangered species, as well as ecosystem functioning of the EA as a whole.
dc.description.departmentBiology
dc.formatText
dc.format.extent63 pages
dc.format.medium1 file (.pdf)
dc.identifier.citationCorrington, C. A. (2022). <i>Spatial gradients and food web structure of groundwater communities</i> (Unpublished thesis). Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas.
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10877/15667
dc.language.isoen
dc.subjectBarton Springs segment
dc.subjectChemolithoautotrophyresh
dc.subjectEdwards Aquifer
dc.subjectFreshwater saline water interface
dc.subjectMANOVA
dc.subjectNorthern segment
dc.subjectPCA
dc.subjectParticulate organic matter
dc.subjectRDA
dc.subjectSan Antonio segment
dc.subjectStable isotopes
dc.subjectTrophic enrichment factor
dc.titleSpatial Gradients and Food Web Structure of Groundwater Communities
dc.typeThesis
thesis.degree.departmentBiology
thesis.degree.disciplineAquatic Resources
thesis.degree.grantorTexas State University
thesis.degree.levelMasters
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Science

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