Our research combines freshwater ecology, groundwater science and ecotoxicology, using field and laboratory studies, eDNA and invertebrate analyses to understand ecosystem health, connectivity and human impacts.
Our research is driven by a commitment to protect rivers and groundwater ecosystems for future generations.
Through multidisciplinary approaches spanning freshwater ecology and ecotoxicology, we investigate the factors that influencing ecosystem health, biodiversity, and resilience, and assess how human activities influence aquatic environments.
We combine macroinvertebrate and stygofauna surveys, eDNA, manipulative experiments, and in situ monitoring to understand how organisms interact with their environment. With a particular focus on groundwater, one of Earth’s least understood ecosystems, our work advances knowledge of biodiversity, ecosystem function, and responses to environmental change. By integrating traditional ecological knowledge and two-way science, and working closely with communities, government, and industry, we deliver research that supports evidence-based freshwater resource management.
We never know the worth of water till the well is dry.
Our research is organised around three interconnected themes that collectively advance the sustainable management of freshwater ecosystems.
Investigating connections between GDEs.
We develop science-based tools and indicators to support the assessment and management of freshwater ecosystems.
We seek to improve understanding of biodiversity, ecological interactions, and ecosystem processes within freshwater environments, particularly groundwater systems.
The team recently attended the International Conference for Subterranean Biology (ICSB) in Mangalia, Romania. Here Prof. Hose presented recent research on ‘The influence of groundwater drawdown on the survival and distribution of stygofauna’ and Dr Korbel presented recent findings in the Darling Baaka river with a talk titled ‘How do groundwater and surface water ecosystems interact?’. The Global Research into eDNA in Groundwater (GReG) also had an opportunity to meet at this conference and discuss upcoming work.
Dr Korbel followed this with a presentation at the International Association of Hydrogeology (IAH) in Budapest, where she presented the talk ‘What do we know about groundwater ecosystems in Murray Darling Basin, Australia?’
We have a number of opportunities to work with us including honours, Masters and PhD opportunities. Please contact us if you are interested in freshwater ecosystems and we will advise the current opportunities, or look on the University of Sydney Portal.
The Global Research on eDNA in Groundwaters (GReG) project was established by Dr Korbel, and her co-leads Dr Guzik (Adelaide University) and Dr Sacco (Curtin University) in 2024 as an international collaboration using environmental DNA (eDNA) to assess groundwater biodiversity. It has to data collected samples across 47 sites in 19 countries across Europe, Australia, Asia, Africa, and North America.
GReG aims to standardise eDNA methods, improve detection of subterranean species, and strengthen groundwater conservation globally. Key outcomes include establishing a global research network, developing harmonised sampling and analysis protocols, generating comparable biodiversity datasets, and advancing evidence-based management of vulnerable groundwater ecosystems.
For further information about the River and Groundwater Ecology Lab, please contact:
