Integrated Assessment of Running Waters in Europe

Integrated assessment of running waters is the focal point of the European Water Framework Directive. This book provides deep insight into principles and methodologies of river assessment, covering the whole range from the definition of reference conditions and river typologies to specific problems such as the most appropriate taxonomic resolution and software applications. It is focused on benthic macroinvertebrates, the taxonomic group most frequently used in bioassessment. The underlying principles are relevant for other taxonomic groups used in bioassessment and other ecosystem types, even beyond aquatic habitats.

Overview and Application of the AQEM Assessment System.- Does the Ecoregion Approach Support the Typological Demands of the Eu ‘water Framework Directive’?.- Testing the European Stream Typology of the Water Framework Directive for Macroinvertebrates.- Comparing Macroinvertebrate Indices to Detect Organic Pollution across Europe: A Contribution to the EC Water Framework Directive Intercalibration.- Identification and Measure of Hydromorphological Degradation in Central European Lowland Streams.- Establishing Reference Conditions for European Streams.- A New Method for Assessing the Impact of Hydromorphological Degradation on the Macroinvertebrate Fauna of Five German Stream Types.- Assessing Acid Stress in Swedish Boreal and Alpine Streams Using Benthic Macroinvertebrates.- The Development of An Ecological Quality Assessment and Classification System for Greek Running Waters Based on Benthic Macroinvertebrates.- Detection of Organic Pollution of Streams in Southern Sweden Using Benthic Macroinvertebrates.- Towards a Multimetric Index for the Assessment of Dutch Streams Using Benthic Macroinvertebrates.- Assessment Methodology for Southern Siliceous Basins in Portugal.- Multimetric Assessment of Data Provided by Water Managers from Germany: Assessment of Several Different Types of Stressors with Macrozoobenthos Communities.- Assessment of Temporary Streams: The Robustness of Metric and Multimetric Indices under Different Hydrological Conditions.- A Stressor Specific Multimetric Approach for Monitoring Running Waters in Austria Using Benthic Macro-Invertebrates.- The Effect of Taxonomic Resolution on the Assessment of Ecological Water Quality Classes.- Integration of the Saprobic System into the European Union Water Framework Directive.- ‘Electronic Subsampling’of Macrobenthic Samples: How Many Individuals are Needed for a Valid Assessment Result?.- The AQEM Multimetric System for the Southern Italian Apennines: Assessing the Impact of Water Quality and Habitat Degradation on Pool Macroinvertebrates in Mediterranean Rivers.- Assessment of Organic Pollution Effect Considering Differences between Lotic and Lentic Stream Habitats.- The Effect of Excluding Taxa with Low Abundances or Taxa with Small Distribution Ranges on Ecological Assessment.- Characterising Hydromorphological Features of Selected Italian Rivers: A Comparative Application of Environmental Indices.