Hydrogeology and Aquatic Ecology Predict One Another in Desert Springs:

Evidence Through Geology, Geochemistry, and Community Ecology

Khaled Pordel ,
1,2 Zachary Meyers 3 ,Dr. Donald Sada2 Dr. Marty Frisbee 3

1Graduate
Program of Hydrologic science, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada
2Division of Hydrologic Science Desert Research Institute, Reno, Nevada
3Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, Purdue University,, West Lafayette, Indiana

In this study, we investigated how desert springs are Ecological Sampling: Geology
unique from one another and how they are similar The BMI community composition was determined from identification and enumeration of The geology of the eastern Sierra Nevada is characterized by
according to their geochemistry and ecology. a minimum of 300 randomly collected BMI taxon. granitic plutons ranging from felsic alaskite to hornblende
Hydrogeological sampling: gabbro. There are some Penn-Permian metasedimentary roof
Geochemically: Desert springs, groundwater-dependent
General chemistry samples were collected from the source at each spring. pendants found at high elevations in the northern end of the
ecosystems, fed by (mtDNA)
Biogeography and molecular-based a mixture of different
analyses suggested groundwater
the interbasin connectivity
between northeastern Mexico and the southern Great Basin (Death Valley) region during the late Data Analysis: west side of Owens Valley.
flowpaths with distinct geochemical fingerprints.
Miocene/early Pleistocene.
Multivariate analysis was used to examine similarities and differences between biological Geochemistry
communities.
Ecologically: Desert springs, isolated aquatic Weathering-derived geochemistry indicators such as Ca/Na and
ecosystems, are occupied by (vagile and non-vagile)  If you want to know more about the hydrological and ecological sampling Mg/K ratios showed that local variations in geology exert
methods, as well as multivariate statistical analysis see the below sheets
aquatic organisms that their ancestors arrived during primary control on the chemical composition of spring waters in
ancient pluvial connections. Owens Valley.
Community Ecology
The classification of the sampled springs based on the BMI
1- Understating the behavior of linked Earth systems Simplified geologic map of Owens Valley with BMI community composition community composition corresponded perfectly to the clustering
locations of sampled springs on the eastern side of
(geologic, hydrologic, and macro-biota) in arid and semi- major petrologies and significant units grouped by Owens Valley, symbolized by geochemical obtained from hydrochemistry analysis. This means that
color grouping.  BMI taxa relative abundance within each group
arid climate regions. variation between springs’ hydrochemistry can explain BMI
Map showing locations of sampled springs emerging on the Sierra Nevada mountain
1) Bright purple units>> Quartz Monzonite community composition in mountain front springs in arid regions.
2-Developing a predictive model to examine how A) Pendant Springs >> Influenced by roof pendants
2) Dark purple units >> Hornblende Gabbro
B) Volcanic Springs >> Evolve from felsic volcanic rock
hydrogeology and aquatic ecology predict one another in 3) Blue units >> Penn-Permian Roof Pendants Resistance and Resilience
C) Granitic Springs>> Evolve from plutonic rock
groundwater dependent ecosystems. The structure of BMI communities was relatively stable over
the last two decades. The long-term stability of BMI
communities in desert springs reflects resistance and
Data: resilience of BMI taxa to environmental disturbances.
 Hydrogeological data collected in 2017
Non-metric multi dimensional scaling analysis
1. Stable Isotope
(NMDS)
2. General Chemistry
Spatial distribution of BMI communities and hydrochemistry in an area are a function
 The ordination axes in NMDS are constructed to best
Ecological data collected in 1999
of: reflect the pattern in BMI community composition. We found that the similarities between BMI communities were
1. Benthic Macroinvertebrate (BMI)
 Aquifer characteristics
2. Habitat Characteristics  Springs are symbolized by the geochemistry groups. attributed to the groundwater-rock interactions and the spring
geochemistry.
The axes themselves have no intrinsic meaning
Findings:
 We highlighted that despite the geographical proximity of
 Snowmelt constituted the majority of the recharge source for
springs, the structure of BMI communities is determined by
mountain springs in Owens Valley.
the hydrochemistry and surrounding geology.
 Benthic macroinvertebrate communities in the Owens Valley
The observed pattern can apply to aquatic ecosystems in arid
springs were most similar where stable isotopes and
and semiarid regions around the world.
geochemistry were most similar.

 Relationships observed between BMI data collected in the

late 1990s and water chemistry data collected in 2016
Khaledprd@Nevada.unr.edu
suggests that geochemistry and water-rock interactions are
www.linkedin.com/in/khaled-pordel-
most likely structuring the BMI communities. ResearchLocally-ActGlobally