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Poster 13: Comparison of bio-indicators for the ecological evaluation of valuable headwaters
L. TRIEST1, V. ADRIAENSSENS2, C. BELPAIRE3, J. BREINE3, E. D'HEERE1, W. GABRIELS2, P. GOETHALS2, I. SIMOENS3 en N. DE PAUW2
1 Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laboratory of Plant Science and Nature Management, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, ltriest@vub.ac.be
2 Universiteit Gent, Laboratorium voor Milieutoxicologie en Aquatische Ecologie, J. Plateaustraat 22, 9000 Gent
3 Instituut voor Bosbouw en Wildbeheer, Duboislaan 14, 1560 Groenendaal-Hoeilaart
| Release date | 24/08/2009 |
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The objectives of this project are:
- to compare the indicator values of diatoms, macrophytes (when present), macro-invertebrates and fishes;
- to distinguish the effects of trophic status and saprobity by comparing complementary bio-indicator groups;
- to estimate reference images for rivers with headwaters in forested regions or nature reserves.
A simultaneous collection water samples, soil samples and indicator organisms was made by all partners in 8 sites in the basin of the rivers Maas, Schelde and IJzer. Physical-chemical parameters of water quality were measured, the frequency of macrophytes monitored and the habitat variables described. The ecological evaluation could be very distant and an explanation was given for the extremes. Important are the different relations between the calculated indices and the environmental parameters such that a complementary is needed for monitoring and assessment of ecological quality. It is necessary to keep the information of every indicator group for interpretation of an overall score. This study made clear that the search for reference images needs to be undertaken for each organism group separately and that it will be difficult to locate sites that are suitable for diatoms, macrophytes, macro-invertebrates and fishes at the same time.