In this overview (introductory article to a special issue including 14 papers), we consider all
main types of natural and artificial inland freshwater habitas (fwh). For each type, we identify …

Groundwater fauna (stygofauna) comprises organisms that have adapted to the dark
subterranean environment over a course of thousands and millions of years, typically having …

Caves and other subterranean habitats fulfill the requirements of experimental model
systems to address general questions in ecology and evolution. Yet, the harsh working …

Subterranean ecosystems are among the most widespread environments on Earth, yet we
still have poor knowledge of their biodiversity. To raise awareness of subterranean …

Ecosystem quality is an important area of protection in life cycle impact assessment (LCIA).
Chemical pollution has adverse impacts on ecosystems on a global scale. To improve …

How anthropogenic stressors affect biodiversity is a central question in a changing world.
Subterranean ecosystems and their biodiversity are particularly vulnerable to change, yet …

Groundwater harbours unique species adapted to perpetual darkness. Groundwater fauna
plays a crucial role in global ecosystem services, but contamination poses a threat to this …

Groundwater is the largest source of liquid freshwater on Earth. Groundwater ecosystems
harbor a rich biodiversity, mainly consisting of microbes and invertebrates that provide …

Conservation planning aimed at halting biodiversity loss has seldom focused on
groundwater environments due to the lack of suitable management tools and data. Using …

Groundwaters provide the vast majority of unfrozen freshwater resources on the planet, but
our knowledge of subsurface ecosystems is surprisingly limited. Stygofauna, or stygobionts …