Journal Article
Invertebrate diversity from deep wells of the Southern boundary of the Edwards Aquifer of southcentral Texas
Perez, K.E., Cantu, V., Saenz, V., Gibson, R., Duncan. P. and Hutchins, B.
Record Number:
6449
Year:
2024
Journal:
Texas Journal of Science
Pages:
1-20
Volume:
76(1)
Abstract:
Abstract.–This study examined the invertebrate fauna from three deep wells
located at the Uvalde National Fish Hatchery in south-central Texas. These wells
provide a water source from geological strata of the southern boundary of the
Edwards Aquifer ranging in age from Lower Cretaceous to Recent. Forty-seven
collections, sampled on a continuous basis from November 2020 to January 2022,
produced a total of 738 specimens comprising 15 different species. These
collections reveal a diverse crustacean assemblage along with dominant numbers
of the stygobiotic snail Balconorbis uvaldensis. This study provides a preliminary
survey for future investigations of unidentified crustacean species as well as
revealing seasonal variations in the reproductive life cycle of Balconorbis
uvaldensis.
Keywords: stygobiotic, stygosnails, Edwards-Trinity Aquifer System, reproductive
seasonality
Times Cited:
2