Quantifying the impact of groundwater fauna and temperature on the ecosystem service of microbial carbon degradation; a proof-of-principle approach

Groundwater ecosystems fulfil functions that humankind relies upon, e.g. for sustainable drinking water production. Quantification of these services is lacking so far. Thus, it is not possible to predict scenarios (e.g. future climates). Based on data from a comprehensive groundwater ecosystem study comprising four zones of varying land use and groundwater/surface water exchange, we parameterized a quantitative dynamic food web model (recharged organic carbon, microorganisms using the biodegradable fraction of this carbon, and fauna grazing on the microorganisms), in a proof-of-principle approach. With the model satisfactorily reflecting the field data, we calculated five further scenarios, three of which without fauna (mortality e.g. due to contamination, sudden peaks of temperature etc.). Two of the “fauna” and two of the “no fauna” scenarios were run with temperature elevated by 1.5 and 3 °C, respectively. The ecosystem service of carbon degradation was expressed as the difference in carbon concentration between the beginning of the simulation and the end of the simulation. In most scenarios, remaining carbon increased over time. The remaining carbon in some scenarios was up to 6.6 times as high in the “no fauna” scenarios compared to the reference case. Fauna was thus shown to fulfil a service by promoting microbial carbon degradation that may be substantial. This model set up can serve to test other cases of varying physical and chemical variations and disturbances.