Quality Index of Subtidal Macroalgae (QISubMac): A suitable tool for ecological quality status assessment under the scope of the European Water Framework Directive

2015 ◽  
Vol 101 (1) ◽  
pp. 334-348 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Le Gal ◽  
S. Derrien-Courtel
Keyword(s):  
Water Framework Directive ◽  
Quality Index ◽  
European Water Framework Directive ◽  
Ecological Quality ◽  
European Water ◽  
Suitable Tool ◽  
Ecological Quality Status ◽  
Status Assessment ◽  
Quality Status

scholarly journals Towards the implementation of the Water Framework Directive in Mediterranean transitional waters: the use of macroinvertebrates as biological quality elements

2013 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 212
Author(s):  
David Cabana ◽  
Kalliopi Sigala ◽  
Artemis Nicolaidou ◽  
Sofia Reizopoulou
Keyword(s):  
Water Framework Directive ◽  
Reference Conditions ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Ecological Quality ◽  
Transitional Waters ◽  
Biological Quality ◽  
Biological Quality Elements ◽  
Ecological Quality Status ◽  
Status Assessment ◽  
Quality Status

During the last decade the Water Framework Directive (WFD) has driven scientific community endeavours towards the development of assessment tools to determine the Ecological Quality Status (EQS) for all surface waters, including transitional waters (TWs). Macroinvertebrates being used as Biological Quality Elements encouraged the development of distinct multimetric and multivariate indices, initially based on taxonomic approaches. Those indices were mostly developed for the marine environment and applied extensively on TWs. The main discrepancies in the ecological quality status assessment arise on TWs, partially due to the difficulty in discriminating the effects of natural stress from anthropogenic impact. As a response, indices following functional approaches are being developed and applied in assessing the EQS in these environments. Next, the validation and intercalibration of the metrics as well as the settlement of reference conditions are additional sources of variability inherent to any assessment. This paper aims at briefly presenting the different steps needed for the implementation of WFD on Mediterranean TWs. It highlights existing difficulties and possible research lines to be explored in order to reduce sources of variability and better assess the status of such water bodies.

scholarly journals Water pollution by agriculture

2007 ◽  
Vol 363 (1491) ◽  
pp. 659-666 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian Moss
Keyword(s):  
Water Pollution ◽  
Water Framework Directive ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Water Bodies ◽  
European Water Framework Directive ◽  
Ecological Quality ◽  
River Channels ◽  
Freshwater Systems ◽  
European Water ◽  
Individual Effects

Agriculture disrupts all freshwater systems hugely from their pristine states. The former reductionist concept of pollution was of examining individual effects of particular substances on individual taxa or sub-communities in freshwater systems, an essentially ecotoxicological concept. It is now less useful than a more holistic approach that treats the impacts on the system as a whole and includes physical impacts such as drainage and physical modification of river channels and modification of the catchment as well as nutrient, particulate and biocide pollution. The European Water Framework Directive implicitly recognizes this in requiring restoration of water bodies to ‘good ecological quality’, which is defined as only slightly different from pristine state. The implications for the management of agriculture are far more profound than is currently widely realized.

scholarly journals Evaluating the Applicability of Phytoplankton Community Indices in Assessing The Ecological Quality Status (EcoQS) of a Coastal Ecosystem (Thane Creek, India): Mono-Metric vs Multi-Metric Approach

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Revati Hardikar ◽  
Haridevi Chanjaplackal Kesavan ◽  
Shantaj Deshbhratar
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Environmental Quality ◽  
Quality Index ◽  
Phytoplankton Community ◽  
Ecological Quality ◽  
Water Quality Improvement ◽  
Ecological Quality Status ◽  
Thane Creek ◽  
Quality Status

Abstract The ecological quality status (EcoQS) of Thane Creek which is surrounded by a highly urbanized and industrialized sector of Mumbai was assessed by considering six phytoplankton community indices. Sampling was carried during Premonsoon to compare the efficiency of selected indices (Chl a, abundance, H′, MDI, IPI and MMPI) in the tropical setting. Ecostatus proposed by selected phytoplankton indices assigned a 'moderate-good' status to phytoplankton zone (PZ)-I, 'moderate-poor' to PZ-II while 'bad' to PZ-III. Comparatively, MMPI appeared to be the most efficient water quality index because of its capability in discriminating between 'acceptable' and 'not-acceptable' EcoQS. The gradient of anthropic activities along the creek plays a major role in deciding the EcoQS of Thane Creek. Limitations of all indices in evaluating environmental quality were also discussed in the present study. The investigation could provide a fillip to policymakers who are undertaking coastal water quality improvement initiatives.

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