scholarly journals Rapid Bioassessment Protocols Using Aquatic Macroinvertebrates in Africa–Considerations for Regional Adaptation of Existing Biotic Indices

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helen F. Dallas
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Aquatic Ecosystems ◽  
Reference Conditions ◽  
Data Interpretation ◽  
Ecological Condition ◽  
Biotic Index ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Variability ◽  
Biotic Indices ◽  
Rapid Bioassessment ◽  
Regional Adaptation

Benthic macroinvertebrates are commonly used to assess water quality and ecological condition of aquatic ecosystems and they form the basis of several biotic indices. Many of these biotic indices are based on rapid bioassessment protocols (RBP). The first RBP based on macroinvertebrates, developed in Africa in the early 1990s, was the South Africa Scoring System (SASS). Since then SASS has been widely used in southern Africa and beyond, and has formed the basis of several other RBPs developed in Africa. This paper explores the RBPs and associated biotic indices currently used in Africa, primarily those that are rapid, field-based with low taxonomy (mostly family level) and which rely on sensitivity weightings of individual taxa to generate three metrics for interpreting water quality and ecological condition of aquatic ecosystems. Recommendations for future regional adaptation of RBPs, including calibration, validation, and modification of RBPs and biotic indices for new regions are provided. To date, five RBPs have been developed in Africa, while some existing biotic indices have been used outside their intended regional range. Key to the efficacy of any RBP and associated biotic index is the ability to detect a water quality impact, or change in river health. Important considerations when adapting an index for a new region or country include evaluating the suitability of the sampling protocol to local river conditions, evaluating the distribution of aquatic macroinvertebrate taxa in the region, assigning sensitivity weightings to new taxa in the region, evaluating the ability of the biotic index to detect impacts, evaluating within-country spatial and temporal variability in macroinvertebrate assemblages, and developing appropriate data interpretation guidelines based on metric scores and reference conditions. Often several iterations of a biotic index are needed, with improvement in efficacy with each version, following spatially and temporally comprehensive sampling. Future RBPs developed for bioassessment of rivers in Africa will promote the protection, conservation, and management of African riverine ecosystems.

scholarly journals Modern ecological condition of surface waters of Trubizh river

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Yezlovetska ◽  
◽  
M. Ladyka ◽  
A. Doroshenko ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Pollution ◽  
Water Quality ◽  
Surface Waters ◽  
Aquatic Ecosystems ◽  
River Mouth ◽  
Ecological Condition ◽  
Polluted Water ◽  
Ecological Index ◽  
Sampling Points ◽  
The Village

The problem of environmental safety of water bodies is relevant today, especially for the basins of small and medium-sized rivers, which are clear indicators of the environment state. One of them is the Trubizh River. The water resources of this river are formed under the anthropogenically changed conditions of the drainage and humidification complex of the Trubizh reclamation system. These resources are also receivers of effluents from point and diffuse sources. Thus, there is a need for constant monitoring of the ecological condition of the river. The water quality of it is a consequence of anthropogenic activities in the watershed. The aim of the work is a comprehensive assessment of the Trubizh River ecological condition under the modern conditions of water quality formation. The analysis has been conducted using official data from the state monitoring of water quality for 2015-2019 years and our own research for 2015-2016 years. 7 observation points have been considered from souse to mouth of the river: border areas of Brovary and Baryshivka; Baryshivka – 1 km above and 0.9 km below the village, Pereyaslav-Khmelnytsky – 0.5 km above and 1 km below the town, the mouth of the Alta and Trubizh rivers). We used such methods as analytical (determination of water quality indicators according to generally accepted standardized methods); analysis, systematization and generalization of the monitoring database; method of calculation of integrated block indices and complex ecological index of water quality (IE). It is established that during the five-year period (2015-2019) according to the weighted average and the worst values of the complex ecological index (IEworst 4.2) the waters are characterized as "satisfactory", "slightly polluted" of the III class quality 4 category. In 2018 and 2019 years, there was a deterioration in water quality by one category (III quality class 5 category) - "mediocre", "moderately polluted" water. This is due to a set of conditions of natural and climatic (insufficient rainfall and rising air temperature) and anthropogenic nature (water pollution, unauthorized surface water abstraction, runoff obstruction, etc.). It is noted that Trubizh river is characterized by stable uniform spatial water pollution. The largest values of IE are recorded in the area of influence of the village Baryshivka (IE worst 3.7-3.8) and Pereyaslav-Khmelnytskyi in the sampling points: the Alta river mouth (IEworst 4.0) and the Trubizh river mouth (IEworst 3.7). The water quality in these sampling points corresponded to class III of category 4 and was generally characterized as "satisfactory", "polluted". In general, the deterioration of water quality is caused by organic pollution (according to the indicator of dichromate oxidation (IV class, 6 category), BOD5 (Biochemical oxygen demand) (III class, 5 category), nitrogen compounds (ammonium, nitrite and nitrate) – V class, 7 category) and phosphorus compounds (phosphate ions – III class, 5 category), total iron and general chromium – III class, 5 category, phenols and SSAS (synthetic surfactants active substances) – IV class, 6 category. Thus, one of the main reasons for the degradation of the river is the anthropogenic conditionality of its development as a result of the urbanized and agricultural areas impact. The obtained data open the prospect of continuing work on monitoring and assessing the ecological status of aquatic ecosystems of the Trubizh River for the further development of scientifically based recommendations. It is necessary for making management decisions for sustainable use and protection of surface waters and restoration of aquatic ecosystems of Trubizh River Basin.

USING BMWP SCORING SYSTEM, ASPT INDICES AND AQUATIC INSECTS TO ASSESS THE WATER QUALITY OF SOME STREAMS OF BACH MA AREA IN THUA THIEN HUE PROVINCE

2013 ◽  
Vol 83 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hoàng Đình Trung
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Data Analysis ◽  
Aquatic Insects ◽  
Scoring System ◽  
National Park ◽  
Biotic Index ◽  
Biotic Indices ◽  
Chemical Methods

Aquatic insects have been used to evaluate the water quality of Bach Ma area in Thua Thien Hue province through the BMWP scoring system for Vietnam and ASPT indices. The study was carried out between March and December of 2010. As a result, 27 families of aquatic insects belonging to 3 orders (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera) were recognised. Among these, 18 families belong to the list of the BMWP Viet scoring system. The data analysis shows that the BMWPViet scores are relatively high, the biotic indices (ASPT) range from 7.10 to 8.71. Aquatic insects have been used as biotic indices to classify the water quality as fairly clean (Oligosaprobe) or very clean. This evaluation corresponds to the water quality assessed by phisio-chemical methods. Keywords: Aquatic insects, Ephemeroptera, Trichoptera, Plecoptera, Bach Ma National Park, ASPT biotic index, water quality.

scholarly journals Are the streams of the Sinos River basin of good water quality? Aquatic macroinvertebrates may answer the question

2010 ◽  
Vol 70 (4 suppl) ◽  
pp. 1207-1215 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Bieger ◽  
ABP Carvalho ◽  
MN Strieder ◽  
L. Maltchik ◽  
C Stenert
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Working Party ◽  
Aquatic Macroinvertebrates ◽  
Biotic Index ◽  
Biotic Indices ◽  
Macroinvertebrate Communities ◽  
Score System ◽  
One Year

Macroinvertebrate communities are one of the most used groups in assessments of water quality, since they respond directly to the level of contamination of aquatic ecosystems. The main objective of this study was the assessment of the water quality of the Sinos River basin (Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil) through biotic indices based on the macroinvertebrate community ("Family Biotic Index - FBI", and "Biological Monitoring Working Party Score System - BMWP"). Three lower order streams (2nd order) were selected in each one of three main regions of the basin. In each stream, the samplings were performed in three reaches (upper, middle, and lower), totalling 27 reaches. Two samplings were carried in each reach over one year (winter and summer). A total of 6,847 macroinvertebrates distributed among 54 families were sampled. The streams from the upper region were of better water quality than the lower region. The water quality did not change between the upper, middle and lower reaches of the streams. However, the upper reaches of the streams were of better water quality in all the regions of the basin. The water quality of the streams did not vary between the summer and the winter. This result demonstrated that water quality may be analysed in both studied seasons (summer and winter) using biotic indices. The analysis of the results allows us to conclude that the biotic indices used reflected the changes related to the water quality along the longitudinal gradient of the basin. Thus, aquatic macroinvertebrates were important bioindicators of the water and environmental quality of the streams of the Sinos River basin.

scholarly journals Using Cilioplankton as an Indicator of the Ecological Condition of Aquatic Ecosystems

Geosciences ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 464
Author(s):  
Tatiana Kondrateva ◽  
Tatiana Nikonenkova ◽  
Nadezhda Stepanova
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Aquatic Ecosystems ◽  
Diversity Index ◽  
Ecological Condition ◽  
Shannon Index ◽  
Water Bodies ◽  
Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons ◽  
Species Diversity Index ◽  
Middle Volga Region

We assess the quality of surface water in water bodies located in the Middle Volga region (Russian Federation). The water quality is assessed using 19 chemical compounds and cilioplankton indicators, such as the total number of species, the abundance of each species, and, based on both of them, the saprobity index and the Shannon–Weaver diversity index (H). We classify the water quality from polluted to extremely dirty by using abiotic indicators, and from conditionally clean to dirty by means of biotic indicators. Using the logistic regression method, we are able to predict the water quality (clean or dirty) in correspondence with the species diversity index (H) and to clarify how the quality of the water is related to its physicochemical properties. The seven most significant chemical predictors of both natural origin (mineralization, hydro carbonates, and chlorides) and natural-anthropogenic origin (organic substances (according to BOD5), nitrates, total petroleum hydrocarbons, iron), identified during the stepwise selection procedure, have a substantial influence on the outcome of the model. Qualitative and quantitative indicators of development of ciliates, as well as indices calculated on their basis, allow assessing with a very high level of accuracy the water quality and the condition of aquatic ecosystems in general. The Shannon index calculated for the number of ciliates can be successfully used for ranking water bodies as “clean/dirty”.

scholarly journals Spatial and Temporal Variability of Posidonia oceanica Monitoring Indicators, Valencian Community, Spain

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 3235
Author(s):  
Yolanda Fernández-Torquemada ◽  
Marta Díaz-Valdés ◽  
Andrés Izquierdo-Muñoz ◽  
José Luis Sánchez-Lizaso ◽  
Alfonso A. Ramos-Esplá
Keyword(s):  
Temporal Variability ◽  
Temporal Trends ◽  
Reference Conditions ◽  
Posidonia Oceanica ◽  
Ecological Condition ◽  
Spatiotemporal Variability ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Variability ◽  
Study Sites

This article presents the results from the long-term Water Framework Directive monitoring of Posidonia oceanica in the Valencian Community, Spain. A total of six areas where Posidonia occurs were studied. Locations were characterized by a different ecological condition: degraded Posidonia meadows; meadows in good conditions; meadows close to the best reference conditions. The spatiotemporal variability of different indicators were sampled from 2005 to 2017. Lower quality meadows are characterized by a lower density and coverage of Posidonia, a higher proportion of dead Posidonia, a higher proportion of plagiotropic rhizomes, smaller shoots, and higher epiphyte biomass, as well as the presence of foliar necrosis marks. For all study sites, the temporal trends indicated a decrease in the quality of the meadows from 2005 to 2011 and a recovery from 2012 to 2017. Some variability observed in the indicators such as P. oceanica cover in patchy meadows, could not be explained by changes in the meadow health.

scholarly journals A comparative analysis of biotic indices that use macroinvertebrates to assess water quality in a coastal river of Paraná state, southern Brazil

2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 27-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fábio Bertolini Gonçalves ◽  
Márcia Santos de Menezes
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Party System ◽  
Human Impacts ◽  
Biotic Index ◽  
Functional Feeding Groups ◽  
Average Score ◽  
Biotic Indices ◽  
Feeding Groups ◽  
Chemical Attributes ◽  
Coastal River

Biotic indices to monitor water quality are helpful tools for evaluating the health of rivers and lakes. In Brazil water samples are mainly analyzed using physical and chemical attributes, because most biotic indices were developed in other countries and their effective application to Brazilian ecosystems requires significant research. This study compared four biotic indices commonly used to evaluate water quality via benthic macroinvertebrates in order to determine which index best reflects ecosystem health in a coastal river in Brazil's Paraná state. We also analyzed functional feeding groups. The indices studied were: 1) EPT (percent of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera); 2) BMWP' (Biological Monitoring Work Party System); 3) BMWP'-ASPT (Average Score per Taxon); and 4) HFBI (Hilsenhoff Family Biotic Index). All indices were calculated from five samples collected from April 2005 to April 2006 at two stations on the coastal do Pinto River. The river's headwaters are inside a protected area but impacts increase downriver (e.g., towns, cattle grazing, tourism). The HFBI index did the poorest job of reflecting water quality. No one index performed better than the others, and all indices yielded water quality scores that did not accurately reflect macroinvertebrate community structure because all of them had differences between ordination scores and the structure of assemblage. The functional feeding groups protocol classified the lower stretch of the river as disturbed due to human impacts, suggesting that this method is a good one to evaluate health in environments.

scholarly journals Assessing water quality in the Kelebek Stream branch (Gediz River Basin, West Anatolia of Turkey) using physicochemical and macroinvertebrate-based indices

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 260-278
Author(s):  
Alperen Ertaş ◽  
Bülent Yorulmaz
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Working Party ◽  
Total Variance ◽  
Biotic Index ◽  
Average Score ◽  
Anthropogenic Pressure ◽  
Biotic Indices ◽  
Gediz River ◽  
Gediz River Basin

This study was carried out in Kelebek, which is the most important stream in Gediz River Basin, Turkey, to determine water quality by using macroinvertebrate-based metrics and physicochemial variables. In addition, we also aimed to investigate the effects of anthropogenic pressure and dam construction on stream macroinvertebrates during the study period. In this study, following biotic indices are used: Saprobi Index (SI), Biological Monitoring Working Party (BMWP), Average Score per Taxon (ASPT), Family Biotic Index (FBI), Belgian Biotic Index (BBI), as well as diversity indices: Shannon-Weaver index (SWDI), Simpsons index (SDI) and Margalef index (MDI). Collection of macroinvertebrate samples and the physicochemical measurements were carried out monthly for a year. As a result of the identification, the most dominant macroinverterate group was Insecta. Our results show the presence of 9 taxonomic group in the stream which belong to nine groups: Oligochaeta, Mollusca, Crustacea, Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera, Odonata, Coleoptera, Diptera. Canonical correlation analysis (CCA) indicates importance of physicochemial variables in the distribution of different macroinvertebrates groups (total variance 88%), species (total variance 86.2%) and biotic indices (total variance 88.2%). The water quality along the Kelebek Stream show variation from good class in station #1, #2 and #5, to moderate in station #3 and #4. We conclude that BMWP (Original), BMWP (Spanish), BMWP (Greek) and ASPT indices are suitable for assessing stream health by macroinvertebrates.

scholarly journals Biotic indices to be used for assessment of Ichthyofauna structure of the Zapadna Morava river (West Serbia, the Danube basin)

2005 ◽  
pp. 29-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Goran Markovic ◽  
Predrag Veljovic
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Aquatic Ecosystems ◽  
Fish Community ◽  
Biotic Indices ◽  
Danube Basin ◽  
Saprobic Index ◽  
Shannon’S Index ◽  
Morava River ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Index Of Diversity

The presence of 25 fish species from 8 families was found to exist in the ichthyofauna of the Zapadna Morava river (the Danube basin, West Serbia) in the period from 1996-1999. The structure of the fish community was analysed using a substantial number of indices (Shannon's index - diversity Margalef's index of diversity, Sorensen's index of biotic similarity and Saprobic index of community). Qualitative-quantitative relationships in the ichthyofauna of the 4 river and one lake profiles were compared, too. High differences due to diversity in the general environmental conditions existing in the individual habitats were also established. An excessively high antropogenous impact on the diversity of aquatic ecosystems gave rise not only to a deteriorated water quality, but also to an abundance of the allochthonous ichthyofauna representatives.

Survey of the Ecological State of Eight Man-Made Lakes Within the City Limits of Freiburg, Germany

1992 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 301-310
Author(s):  
Agnes G. Pulvermüller ◽  
Heidulf E. Müller
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Water Quality ◽  
Biochemical Oxygen Demand ◽  
Secchi Depth ◽  
Oxygen Demand ◽  
Ecological Condition ◽  
Ecological State ◽  
Biological Parameters ◽  
The City ◽  
Oxygen Profiles

Abstract The survey of the ecological condition of eight lakes within the city limits of Freiburg included hydrochemical measurements and analyses (oxygen profiles, Secchi depth, pH, biochemical oxygen demand) together with biological parameters (chlorophyll a, phytoplanktonbiomass, Escherichia coli counts), as well as parasitic examinations. Only some of the investigated parameters are presented here. Seven of the eight lakes were found to be eutrophic. The process of eutrophication appears to be still in progress. One lake can be considered to be hypertrophic. Schistosome dermatitis was observed. The water quality in general was considered to be acceptable; suggestions to maintain or improve the water quality are made.

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