A revisitation of TRIX for trophic status assessment in the light of the European Water Framework Directive: application to Italian coastal waters

The trophic status classification of coastal waters at the European scale requires the availability of harmonised indicators and procedures. The composite trophic status index (TRIX) provides useful metrics for the assessment of the trophic status of coastal waters. It was originally developed for Italian coastal waters and then applied in many European seas (Adriatic, Tyrrhenian, Baltic, Black and Northern seas). The TRIX index does not fulfil the classification procedure suggested by the WFD for two reasons: (a) it is based on an absolute trophic scale without any normalization to type-specific reference conditions; (b) it makes an ex ante aggregation of biological (Chl-a) and physico-chemical (oxygen, nutrients) quality elements, instead of an ex post integration of separate evaluations of biological and subsequent chemical quality elements. A revisitation of the TRIX index in the light of the European Water Framework Directive (WFD, 2000/60/EC) and new TRIX derived tools are presented in this paper. A number of Italian coastal sites were grouped into different types based on a thorough analysis of their hydro-morphological conditions, and type-specific reference sites were selected. Unscaled TRIX values (UNTRIX) for reference and impacted sites have been calculated and two alternative UNTRIX-based classification procedures are discussed. The proposed procedures, to be validated on a broader scale, provide users with simple tools that give an integrated view of nutrient enrichment and its effects on algal biomass (Chl-a) and on oxygen levels. This trophic evaluation along with phytoplankton indicator species and algal blooms contribute to the comprehensive assessment of phytoplankton, one of the biological quality elements in coastal waters.     

Macrophytes and phytobenthos as indicators of ecological status in German lakes — a contribution to the implementation of the water framework directive

A new assessment system for macrophytes and phytobenthos in German lakes according to the Water Framework Directive of the European Community is described. Based on biological, chemical and hydromorphological data from about 100 lake sites covering the main ecoregions, hydromorphological lake types and degradation forms, biocoenotic types could be defined. For developing a classification system the quality element macrophytes and phytobenthos was divided into two components: macrophytes and benthic diatoms. For macrophytes 4 and for benthic diatoms 4 lake types were identified. The benthic vegetation at reference conditions is described and degradation is characterised as deviation in benthic vegetation species composition and abundance from the reference biocoenosis. For classification in five ecological status classes, several metrics were developed and used in combination with existing indices. For a few of the described lake types further investigations are necessary before a classification can be developed.     

Comparing long term sediment records to current biological quality element data - Implications for bioassessment and management of a eutrophic lake

Defining reference conditions for lakes situated in areas of human settlement and agriculture is rarely straightforward, and is especially difficult within easily eroding and nutrient rich watersheds. We used diatoms, cyanobaterial akinetes, remains of green algae and chironomid head capsules from sediment samples of Lake Kirmanjärvi, Finland, to assess its deviation from the initial ecological status. These site-specific records of change were compared to current type-specific ecological status assessment. All paleolimnological data indicated deviation from natural conditions and mirrored the current, monitoring-based assessment of “moderate” ecological lake status. However, the sediment data showed that the lake should be re-typified as a naturally eutrophic lake. Sediment records as well as current monitoring data indicated temporary improvement in water quality in response to extensive fish manipulation. Our results suggest that paleolimnological records can be used to derive site-specific reference conditions and that extensive restoration efforts can result in gradual, observable improvements of water quality and ecological status.     

Zooplankton response to long-term liming: Comparison of 15 limed and 15 reference lakes in Sweden

Taxonomic composition and variation in density of zooplankton were studied since 1989 to investigate possible long-term effects of anthropogenic acidification and liming in Sweden (the Integrated Studies of the Effects of Liming in Acidified Water (ISELAW) programme). In the programme, 15 long-term (18-31 years) limed lakes were studied in parallel with 8 untreated circumneutral lakes (representing target conditions) and 7 acid lakes. Five-year means from these lakes were used to evaluate differences between the three lake groups. Water chemistry (including trace metals), phytoplankton, invertebrate predators and fish were also monitored. Older records from 8 of the limed lakes obtained during the acid period preceding the initial liming were compared with records from the limed period. The number of taxa more than doubled in 6 lakes after liming. Total present-day zooplankton biovolume showed insignificant differences between the neutral and limed groups, i.e., conformed with the target conditions. Trace metals, including inorganic aluminium, appeared in low concentrations in limed and neutral lakes whereas zooplankton in one acid lake was Al-intoxicated. Daphnid populations in 4 other lakes may suffer from effects of high Cd or Cu concentrations. “Bottom-up” regulation of the zooplankton biovolumes was indicated by positive regressions between total phosphorus-phytoplankton and phytoplankton-zooplankton. Corresponding tests showed no “top-down” regulation of zooplankton by fish and of phytoplankton by zooplankton. Biomasses of planktivorous fish were higher in the neutral reference lakes than in both the acid and the limed lake groups, but neither zooplankton density and biovolume nor mean body size were lower in the neutral references. A higher production and turnover of zooplankton in neutral reference lakes may explain similar densities and structure of zooplankton in spite of a heavier predation pressure.     

Die neue EG‐Wasserrahmenrichtlinie: Bewertung der chemischen und ökologischen Qualität von Oberflächengewässern

The New EC Framework Water Directive: Assessment of the Chemical and Ecological Status of Surface Waters The main objective of the draft EC Framework Water Directive is the good quality of all surface waters. The directive provides for an assessment of the chemical status of surface waters (EU‐wide valid environmental quality standards for approximately 30 priority substances) and a five‐stage ecological classification of waters, comprising the stages high, good, moderate, poor, and bad. The starting point for the assessment are the reference conditions, which are defined as corresponding to high water quality and characterising a water status with no significant anthropogenic impact. The reference sites in the various water body types are to be selected using hydromorphological and physico‐chemical parameters and subsequently characterised by means of biological parameters. For surface waters, three groups of characteristics are provided for, namely: 1. with priority the biology – in the case of surface waters – with the four elements phytoplankton, macrophytes/phytobenthos, benthic invertebrate fauna, and fish fauna; 2. supporting the hydromorphology, e.g. flowing waters with the three elements hydrological regime, river continuity, and morphological conditions and 3. supporting the physico‐chemical conditions with the three elements general conditions, specific synthetic pollutants, and specific non synthetic pollutants (other than the priority substances of the chemical status).     

Monitoring strategies for re-establishment of ecological reference conditions: Possibilities and limitations

The ecological status of an environment should be evaluated by comparison with local “reference conditions”, here defined as the pre-industrial ecological status of the 19th century. This pilot study illustrates how micropalaeontological monitoring, using benthic foraminifera (protists) and associated geochemical parameters preserved in inner Oslofjord (Norway) sediments, characterise local reference conditions. In order to optimise the usefulness of the ecological information held by foraminifera and enable characterisation of temporal changes in environmental quality beyond time intervals covered by biological time-series, the Norwegian governmental macrofauna-based classification system is applied on fossil benthic foraminiferal assemblages. Quantitative comparisons demonstrate deteriorating ecological status in response to increased anthropogenic forcing (eutrophication, micropollutants), including a 73% loss in number of foraminiferal species. Despite reduced pollution during the past decades and, at one site, capping of polluted sediments with clean clay, the reference conditions are far from re-established. Micropalaeontological monitoring requires net sediment accumulation basins and careful considerations of taphonomic processes.     

武汉市湖泊浮游植物群落排序及水质生态评价

本文利用极点排序及聚类的多元分析方法,对武汉市湖泊浮游植物群落结构进行了研究,将排序结果与水质分类结果进行比较,结果表明:东湖和龙阳湖由于受到人为因素的干扰而使得其浮游植物群落的结构特征与其水质状况不太一致.然后再利用生态学的观点对结果进行分析解释,并为武汉市水环境治理与保护提供了科学的生态保护措施.     

淡水浮游植物功能群的概念、划分方法和应用

作为淡水水体的主要初级生产者,浮游植物群落对环境变化的响应十分迅速,因此被用来作为评估水体生态系统状况的指示性生物类群.如何利用浮游植物群落的种类组成信息,来解读其所响应的生态环境特征和变化,以及认识浮游群落结构变化的过程和驱动因素一直是淡水生态学研究的重要内容.根据生态位原理,生态学家们把生活习性和生存策略相似的浮游植物种类归于同一个"功能群",作为群落结构与响应分析的基本单元.浮游植物功能群已被广泛应用于各种淡水水体,功能群的分类和方法也得到了不断的改进和完善.应用较多的功能群划分系统有FG、MFG、MBFG和PFT.目前,我国浮游植物工作者也陆续开始采用浮游植物功能群来分析群落结构和反映水体环境特征,但常常会面临功能群划分上的困难.由于不同功能群划分方法存在较大差异,在使用上需要了解不同划分方法的原理和差别.本文综述了这4种功能群分类方法的特征和应用情况,并对它们的优劣进行了评价和对比,同时介绍了基于功能群的Q指数评价方法,为我国浮游植物群落水平上的相关研究和应用提供方便与参考.     

Multimetric Macroinvertebrate Index Flanders (MMIF) for biological assessment of rivers and lakes in Flanders (Belgium)

The European Water Framework Directive requires that member states assess all their surface waters based on a number of biological elements, including macroinvertebrates. Since 1989, the Flemish Environment Agency has been using the Belgian Biotic Index for assessing river water quality based on macroinvertebrates. Throughout the years, the Belgian Biotic Index has proven to be a reliable and robust method providing a good indication of general degradation of river water and habitat quality. Since the Belgian Biotic Index does not meet all the requirements of the Water Framework Directive, a new index, the Multimetric Macroinvertebrate Index Flanders (MMIF) for evaluating rivers and lakes was developed and tested. This index was developed in order to provide a general assessment of ecological deterioration caused by any kind of stressor, such as water pollution and habitat quality degradation. The MMIF is based on macroinvertebrate samples that are taken using the same sampling and identification procedure as the Belgian Biotic Index. The index calculation is a type-specific multimetric system based on five equally weighted metrics, which are taxa richness, number of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera taxa, number of other sensitive taxa, the Shannon-Wiener diversity index and the mean tolerance score. The final index value is expressed as an Ecological Quality Ratio ranging from zero for very bad ecological quality to one for very good ecological quality. The MMIF correlates positively with dissolved oxygen and negatively with Kjeldahl nitrogen, total nitrogen, ammonium, nitrite, total phosphorous, orthophosphate and biochemical and chemical oxygen demand. This new index is now being used by the Flemish Environment Agency as a standard method to report about the status of macroinvertebrates in rivers and lakes in Flanders within the context of the European Water Framework Directive.     

Development of a River Macrophyte Index (RMI) for assessing river ecological status

We present the process of developing a macrophyte based index (River Macrophyte Index – RMI) for assessing river ecological status, that would be applicable for rivers with moderate to high water alkalinity, flowing over low slope terrain. A reference value and boundary values were determined for five ecological classes. The relation between the developed index and two existing indices, the Reference Index (RI) and the Trophic Index of Macrophytes (TIM), and selected environmental variables was established. The RMI is based on species composition and abundance from 208 sampling sites being in reference or good hydromorphological conditions and differing in the catchment land use. The percentage of natural areas in the sub-catchment was used for classifying macrophyte taxa into 5 ecological groups. 65 plant taxa, of which 47 were identified as indicator taxa, were included in the analysis. To assess the ecological status of a river site, the presence of at least 3 indicator taxa is necessary, otherwise the assessment is considered inconclusive. RMI is expected to indicate multiple pressures on the river, including trophic level. The developed index and RI and TIM indices differed in relation to slope, distance to source and catchment size.     

山西宁武亚高山湖群浮游植物群落结构特征

通过对山西宁武亚高山湖群浮游植物群落结构的调查研究,共鉴定出浮游植物291个种、变种及变型,隶属于8门,45科,108属.各采样站点间种数相差较大,以马营海种类最多,干海最少.硅藻门、绿藻门和蓝藻门明显占优势,优势科、优势属和优势种也都较为明显.优势种有蓝藻门的细小隐球藻(Aphanocapsa elachista)、铜绿微囊藻(Microcystis aeruginisa)和小席藻(Phormidium tenue),硅藻门的库津小环藻(Cyclotella kuetzingii)、肘状脆杆藻(Fragilaria ulna)、尖针杆藻(Synedra acus),绿藻门的狭形纤维藻(Ankistrodesmus angustus)和小球藻(Chlorella vulgaris).浮游植物平均密度为3.49 × 106cells/L.水面下0.5m处比水表层的细胞密度高.综合4种生物多样性指数,宁武亚高山湖群水质总体为轻污染.     

Long-term changes in physical and chemical conditions of nutrient-poor lakes along a latitudinal gradient: is there a coherent phytoplankton community response?

To evaluate climate and atmospheric deposition induced physical and water chemical changes and their effects on phytoplankton communities, we used complete time series (14 years, monthly measurements during the growing season) of 18 physical and chemical variables and phytoplankton data from 13 nutrient-poor Swedish reference lakes along a latitudinal gradient. We found numerous strong significant changes over time that were most coherent among lakes for sulfate concentrations, conductivity, calcium, magnesium, chloride, potassium, water color, surface water temperature and the intensity of thermal stratification. Despite these pronounced coherent physical and water chemical changes over Sweden, the phytoplankton biomass and species richness of six phytoplankton groups, measured at the same time as the water chemical variables, showed only few and weak significant changes over time. The only coherent significant change over Sweden, occurring in seven lakes, was observed in the species richness of chlorophytes. The number of chlorophyte taxa significantly declined over Sweden. Using a partial least square model for each lake, we attributed the decline primarily to an increase in water temperatures and water color, which were among the most important variables for the model performance of each lake. All other taxonomic groups were driven primarily by non-coherent changes in nutrient concentrations, pH and probably also non-coherent grazing pressure. We concluded that coherent phytoplankton responses can only be achieved for taxonomic groups that are driven primarily by coherent physical/chemical changes. According to our study, chlorophytes belong to such a group, making them possible global change indicators. Our findings give new insights into global change effects on different phytoplankton taxonomic groups in nutrient-poor lakes.     

太湖流域浮游植物功能类群分布特征及其与环境因子的关系

太湖流域地处长江下游,水系发达,是典型的平原水网地区,为明确空间和环境因子对太湖流域浮游植物功能类群分布的影响,本研究于2019年8—9月期间比较太湖流域包括河流、湖泊和水库的85个采样点的浮游植物、空间和环境特征. 首次利用“人工智能图像识别技术”,并结合传统人工镜检,共鉴定浮游植物250个分类单位,隶属于9门13纲28目57科110属,以绿藻门(45.6%)、硅藻门(19.2%)和蓝藻门(16.4%)为主. 共划分功能类群31个,包括M、D、J、S1、C、Y、F、P、MP、H1、SN、W1、G、K和TB共15个优势功能类群. 结果表明：1)太湖流域不同水体功能类群组成差异显著,差异主要来自M、J、S1、Y、P、H1类群;2)浮游植物功能类群分布具有一定的空间异质性,以太湖为中心向外形成3个聚类组,物种组成类型依次为蓝藻型、蓝藻-绿藻-硅藻型、绿藻-硅藻-蓝藻型,主要贡献类群依次为M、S1类群,M、S1、P、J类群,P、S1、J、D、C类群;3)在太湖流域,相对于环境因子而言,空间因子对浮游植物功能类群组成的影响更大. RDA分析表明,COD_Mn、NO₃^--N、TN、SD、pH值和DO与太湖流域浮游植物优势功能类群呈显著相关. 过去十年,以控源截污为主导的环境管理政策已在太湖流域取得显著成效,但是对于以M、S1类群水华为特征的夏季太湖流域而言,蓝藻水华防控仍是必须面对的难题,有机污染物和氮的控制仍是关注重点,不同水体类型和浮游植物功能类群因地制宜的管控模式仍是关键.     

A simple method for confidence rating of eutrophication status classifications

We report the development of a methodology for assessing confidence in ecological status classifications. The method presented here can be considered as a secondary assessment, supporting the primary assessment of eutrophication or ecological status. The confidence assessment is based on scoring the quality of the indicators on which the primary assessment is made. This represents a first step towards linking status classification with information regarding their accuracy and precision. Applied to an existing data set used for assessment of eutrophication status of the Baltic Sea (including the Kattegat and Danish Straits) we demonstrate that confidence in the assessment is Good or High in 149 out of 189 areas assessed (79%). Contrary to our expectations, assessments of the open parts of the Baltic Sea have a higher confidence than assessments of coastal waters. We also find that in open waters of the Baltic Sea, some biological indicators have a higher confidence than indicators representing physical-chemical conditions. In coastal waters, phytoplankton, submerged aquatic vegetation and indicators of physical-chemical conditions have a higher confidence than indicators of the quality of benthic invertebrate communities. Our analyses also show that the perceived weaknesses of eutrophication assessments are due more to Low confidence in reference conditions and acceptable deviations, rather than in the monitoring data.     

黑龙江省安兴湿地秋季浮游植物群落结构

于2010年10月(秋季)对黑龙江省安兴湿地浮游植物群落组成、丰度及优势种进行分析.共设置9个采样点,经鉴定共有浮游植物146个分类单位,包括128种17变种1变型,隶属于6门8纲12目25科45属,其中绿藻为优势门类,占浮游植物总数的39.7%,裸藻次之,占浮游植物总数的30.8%,硅藻居第三位,占浮游植物总数的21.9%,调查期间浮游植物的总丰度为181.4×106cells/L.优势度分析显示,安兴湿地秋季各采样点的浮游植物优势种都在3个以上,主要优势种有细粒囊裸藻(Trachelomonas granulosa Playf.)、梅尼小环藻(Cyclotella meneghiniana Kütz.)、细粒囊裸藻齿领变种(Trachelomonas granulosa var.crenulatocollis(Szab.)Hub.-Pest.)等.样点聚类和非度量多维标度分析表明,9个采样点浮游植物群落在相似度60%时可分为5组,各样点浮游植物种类在空间组成上相似性低,差异性较大,主要与其生境特点相关.典范对应分析显示优势种类变化与环境条件相一致,主要受温度、pH的影响.此外,在安兴湿地内还鉴定出大量的β-中污带指示种,结合多样性指数分析,本文初步推断安兴湿地水质可能受到了一定的污染.     

湖北金沙河水库浮游植物群落结构及其与水环境因子的关系

为探明长江中游大型水库水质状况,并为饮用水源安全保障提供科学依据,于2013 2014年按季节对湖北红安金沙河水库浮游植物群落结构及其多样性进行调查,并运用多元统计定量分析浮游植物群落结构与环境因子之间的关系.共鉴定出浮游植物8门94属216种,其中绿藻门为优势种群,其种类数占总物种数的51.39%,其次是硅藻门和蓝藻门.金沙河水库优势种随季节变化而变化,夏季以尖针杆藻(Synedra acus)的优势度最大(0.195),秋季以小胶鞘藻(Phormidium tenus)(0.180)和中华尖头藻(Raphidiopsis sinensia)(0.171)的优势度最大,冬季以具星小环藻(Cyclotella stelligera)(0.220)和圆筒锥囊藻(Dinobryon cylindricum)(0.234)的优势度最大,春季则是链状曲壳藻(Achanthidum catenatum)成为绝对优势种(0.910);金沙河水库浮游植物群落总的变化规律为夏季的硅藻门、蓝藻门和绿藻门,秋季的蓝藻门、绿藻门、硅藻门和隐藻门,向冬季的硅藻门和金藻门转变,春季则是硅藻门为绝对优势类群.Shannon-Wiener多样性指数和Pielou均匀度指数显示,浮游植物在秋季的多样性和均匀度较高,春季的多样性指数和均匀度指数显著低于其它季节,这是因为春季有绝对单一的优势物种,而秋季没有,且秋季的物种数最多,因此其Margalef丰富度指数也最高.将各季节优势种和经Pearson相关性分析筛选出的环境因子进行冗余分析,结果表明筛选的环境因子中磷酸盐、总磷和溶解氧浓度是影响金沙河水库浮游植物群落结构的主要环境因子.从藻类季节变化规律来看,金沙河水库夏、秋季水质污染程度较春、冬季严重;但从藻类丰度和多样性指数来看,春、夏季水质较秋、冬季污染严重.     

三峡库区浮游植物群落结构特征及水生态评价

2020年是长江禁渔开局之年,三峡库区作为长江的重要生态屏障,其水生态环境健康对长江大保护的实施具有重要意义。本文于2020年8月、11月及2021年1月、4月在三峡库区干支流共设置19个断面探究浮游植物群落结构特征,并利用生物量、多样性指数、综合营养状态指数和浮游植物Q指数等多种评价方法评价三峡库区水生态健康并分析其影响因素。结果表明:(1)三峡库区共鉴定出浮游植物8门105属266种,年平均丰度为6.4×10⁴ cells/L,年平均生物量为0.038 mg/L。不同季节优势种组成不同,变异直链藻(Melosira varians Agardh)、骨条藻(Sheletonema spp.)、脆杆藻(Fragilaria spp.)为全年优势种。(2)三峡库区共划分24个功能群,B、D、MP、S1、P、Y为优势功能群。RDA分析表明,电导率、总氮、化学需氧量、总磷、pH、总溶解性固体与三峡库区四季功能群呈现显著关系。(3)相较于丰度、生物量和多样性水质评价结果,浮游植物Q指数更适用于三峡库区水生态评价,显示三峡库区干流水生态环境总体较好,但春、夏两季支流浮游植物...     

九寨沟国家级自然保护区长海夏季浮游植物群落结构及生态评价

高山湖泊对于全球气候变化及人类影响是一个极为敏感的参照系统.九寨沟国家级自然保护区长海作为一个独特的高山湖泊,研究其浮游植物群落结构及其与环境的关系,评估其水质现状及影响因素,有着重要的意义.本文于2014年7月对长海浮游植物群落结构进行了研究.全湖共布设12个采样点,并在中心采样点进行了垂直分层采样.本次调查共发现浮游植物6门38属63种,平均丰度为6.98×10~5cells/L,平均生物量为0.31 mg/L.浮游植物的水平分布差异不大;在垂直分布上,浮游植物的丰度从表层0.5 m至水下50 m呈现先增加后减少的趋势,在20 m水深处达到最大.长海浮游植物的优势种是长海小环藻(Cyclotella changhai)和飞燕角甲藻(Ceratium hirundinella),长海小环藻数量较多,飞燕角甲藻生物量较大.长海浮游植物多样性指数较低,综合各类水质评价方法,可以得出九寨沟长海处于贫-中营养状态.