Caecidotea macropoda
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Caecidotea macropoda faces significant threats from groundwater contamination and aquifer depletion due to agricultural runoff and urban development within its limited range. The species' obligate dependence on specific groundwater chemistry makes it particularly vulnerable to pollution from pesticides, fertilizers, and industrial chemicals that can alter water quality parameters. Climate change poses an additional threat through potential shifts in groundwater recharge patterns and temperature fluctuations that could disrupt the stable conditions this cave-adapted isopod requires.
Habitat
This freshwater isopod is endemic to groundwater systems and cave streams in specific karst regions, where it inhabits the stable, dark aquatic environments of underground waterways. The species requires pristine groundwater with particular chemical compositions and consistent temperatures typical of deep cave ecosystems.
Other threatened species in ASELLIDAE
Frequently asked questions
Why is Caecidotea macropoda classified as Vulnerable?
Where does Caecidotea macropoda live?
What are the main threats to Caecidotea macropoda?
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