Stygofauna
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Stygofauna are any fauna that live within groundwater systems, such as caves and aquifers, or more specifically small, aquatic groundwater invertebrates, though terrestrial air-breathing subterranean animals are also sometimes included. Stygofauna can live within freshwater aquifers and within the pore spaces of limestone, calcrete or laterite, but are also found in marine caves and wells along coasts.
Extensive research has been done into the stygofauna of the USA, France, Slovenia and numerous other European countries, due to easy accessibility of caves and wells in these regions, as well as the high diversity and numbers of animals present here. Many species of stygofauna, especially obligate stygofauna, are endemic to particular regions or even particular caves. This makes them focal points for conservation of groundwater systems.
[edit] Collecting stygofauna
Several methods are currently used to trap stygofauna. The least harmful (but very expensive) method is to use a downbore video camera, the more traditional method is to drag a modified plankton net several times through the bore or sinkhole. A more destructive method is to pump bore water through a sieve on the surface. Recently a stygofauna trap was successfully deployed in the Pilbara on the Telfer Mine site, whilst this method requires further examination it has already demonstrated its versatility.
