Niphargus aberrans
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Niphargus aberrans faces significant threats from groundwater pollution and habitat degradation within its limited range in southeastern Europe. The species' dependence on pristine groundwater systems makes it particularly vulnerable to agricultural runoff, industrial contamination, and urban development that can alter water chemistry and flow patterns. Climate change poses an additional risk through potential shifts in groundwater levels and temperature regimes that could disrupt the delicate cave ecosystems this amphipod requires.
Habitat
This subterranean amphipod inhabits groundwater systems, caves, and underground water bodies in karst regions of southeastern Europe. The species requires pristine, oxygen-rich groundwater with stable temperatures and specific mineral compositions typical of limestone cave environments.