Ecological status assessment of European lakes: a comparison of metrics for phytoplankton, macrophytes, benthic invertebrates and fish

Data on phytoplankton, macrophytes, benthic invertebrates and fish from more than 2000 lakes in 21 European countries were used to develop and test metrics for assessing the ecological status of European lakes as required by the Water Framework Directive. The strongest and most sensitive of the 11 metrics responding to eutrophication pressure were phytoplankton chlorophyll a, a taxonomic composition trophic index (PTI) and a functional traits index (FTI), the macrophyte intercalibration taxonomic composition metric (ICM) and a Nordic lake fish index (NLFI). Intermediate response was found for a cyanobacterial bloom intensity index (Cyano), the Ellenberg macrophyte index and a multimetric index for benthic invertebrates (MMI). The latter also responded to hydromorphological pressure. The metrics provide information on primary and secondary impacts of eutrophication in the pelagic and the littoral zone of lakes. Several of these metrics were used as common metrics in the intercalibration of national assessment systems or have been incorporated directly into the national systems. New biological metrics have been developed to assess hydromorphological pressures, based on aquatic macrophyte responses to water level fluctuations, and on macroinvertebrate responses to morphological modifications of lake shorelines. These metrics thus enable the quantification of biological impacts of hydromorphological pressures in lakes.

LYCHE SOLHEIM Anne;  FELD Christian;  BIRK Sebastian;  PHILLIPS Geoff;  CARVALHO Laurence;  MORABITO Giuseppe;  MISCHKE U;  WILLBY Nigel;  SONDERGAARD Martin;  HELLSTEN Seppo;  KOLADA Agniezska;  MJELDE Marit;  BOHMER Jurgen;  MILER Oliver;  PUSCH Martin;  ARGILLIER Christine;  JEPPESEN Erik;  LAURIDSEN Torben;  POIKANE Sandra; 

2013-03-06

SPRINGER

JRC78119

0018-8158,   

http://www.springer.com/alert/urltracking.do?id=Lf34469Mb99616Sb0667eb,    https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC78119,   

10.1007/s10750-012-1436-y,