Towards Holistic Assessment of the Functioning of Ecosystems Under the Water Framework Directive

The assessment of chemical and ecological status in the context of the Water Framework Directive requires a concrete holistic knowledge on the abiotic and biotic structural properties and processes that determine the functioning of ecosystems. Ecological indicators typically exhibit a non linear response to anthropogenic pressures and a high spatial and temporal variance which underpin emerging key characteristics of natural systems. Recent applied and basic research on the relationships between ecological indicators and anthropogenic pressures reveal several features of those relationships that can be used for predicting meaningful changes of community structure and ecosystem functioning. The effective integration of strategies to chemical status assessment, including biological complementary tools, with strategies to ecological status assessment using ecosystem functional end points may reduce the inherent costs of monitoring and increase the level of protection of the environment.

SOLIMINI Angelo;  PTACNIK Robert;  CARDOSO Ana; 

2009-03-30

ELSEVIER SCIENCE LONDON

JRC48467

0165-9936,   

https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC48467,   

10.1016/j.trac.2008.10.015,