Back to Search
Start Over
Groundwater Microbial Communities in Times of Climate Change
- Source :
- Current Issues in Molecular Biology, Volume 41, Issue 1, Pages 509-538
- Publication Year :
- 2021
- Publisher :
- MDPI AG, 2021.
-
Abstract
- Climate change has a massive impact on the global water cycle. Subsurface ecosystems, the earth largest reservoir of liquid freshwater, currently experience a significant increase in temperature and serious consequences from extreme hydrological events. Extended droughts as well as heavy rains and floods have measurable impacts on groundwater quality and availability. In addition, the growing water demand puts increasing pressure on the already vulnerable groundwater ecosystems. Global change induces undesired dynamics in the typically nutrient and energy poor aquifers that are home to a diverse and specialized microbiome and fauna. Current and future changes in subsurface environmental conditions, without doubt, alter the composition of communities, as well as important ecosystem functions, for instance the cycling of elements such as carbon and nitrogen. A key role is played by the microbes. Understanding the interplay of biotic and abiotic drivers in subterranean ecosystems is required to anticipate future effects of climate change on groundwater resources and habitats. This review summarizes potential threats to groundwater ecosystems with emphasis on climate change and the microbial world down below our feet in the water saturated subsurface.
- Subjects :
- 0301 basic medicine
Times
Nitrogen
Climate Change
Climate
Climate change
Aquifer
Change
03 medical and health sciences
Microbial
0302 clinical medicine
Effects of global warming
Environmental protection
Humans
Ecosystem
Groundwater
Abiotic component
geography
geography.geographical_feature_category
Microbiota
Communities
Global change
Biodiversity
General Medicine
Carbon
030104 developmental biology
Habitat
030220 oncology & carcinogenesis
Environmental science
Hydrology
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 14673037
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Current Issues in Molecular Biology
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....241849e7ffe1e28326a141d0bc615c9f