Biological connectivity indicates hydrological flow pathways in the subsurface

Abstract

Extreme rainfall events are likely to increase in intensity and frequency due to climatic changes and therefore the forecast of flooding events will become more important in the following decades. The flow properties of rainwater in the subsurface play a critical role in the flood formation process, but the underlying mechanism of this subsurface stormflow (SSF) formation has not been fully understood so far. Here, we explore the viability of environmental DNA (eDNA) as an indicator for small-scale flow pathway reconstruction. eDNA comprises genetic signatures from organisms across the Tree of Life (ToL), from whole microorganisms to molecular traces of higher taxa, such as plants or animals. The degree of similarity of biodiversity patterns indicates biological and therefore, in principle, also hydrological connectivity. As part of the SSF Research Unit we characterised 3 trenched hillslopes in 4 catchment areas in Germany and Austria through eDNA ToL-metabarcoding. With this broad-range approach, we aim to understand whether and how eDNA diversity patterns can inform subsurface flow pathways. We found three-dimensional connectivity patterns of biodiversity indicating systematic barriers as well as pathways of hydrological connectivity within each hillslope. Variation between catchments reflects their geographic differences as well as geological peculiarities. Although our results support the potential of eDNA to identify flow pathways and enhance our understanding of SSF, we are still at the beginning of understanding the viability of eDNA as a tracer in hydrological research. Nonetheless, making use of such natural occurring tracers can extend our understanding of hydrological phenomena and can contribute to a more accurate flood prediction.