Biodiversity monitoring in groundwater ecosystems is lagging behind due to limited taxonomic knowledge and methodological challenges. Also, terrestrial land use changes strongly affect groundwater ecosystems, but the extent and impact on groundwater communities are poorly understood. Our recent work led by Mara Knüsel resolved some of these issues.

In a first study of Swiss groundwater macroinvertebrates published in Subterranean Biology (https://doi.org/10.3897/subtbiol.49.132515) we found that while obligate groundwater species (such as groundwater amphipods) showed no seasonal abundance patterns, other species exhibited pronounced seasonality in detection rates. The results emphasize the need for tailored, extensive sampling strategies and careful consideration of detection probability and sampling effort in groundwater fauna monitoring programs.

In a second study of Swiss groundwater amphipods published in Ecological Applications (https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.3040) we revealed a direct correlation between surrounding land use intensity, nitrate levels (a proxy for water quality), and amphipod presence, with higher forest cover supporting more amphipods. These effects were most pronounced within a 400–1000 m radius around sampling sites, exceeding current groundwater protection zone sizes, highlighting the need for broader, ecosystem-based approaches to groundwater management.