Towards a continent-wide ecological site condition database using calibrated expert evaluations.

Studying the changes of land use and its impacts on ecological condition in coastal areas is of great significance for understanding the evolution of the regional ecological conditions and even global change. In this study, the study area encompassed 10 provincial administrative units of China's coastal areas, covering a total of 56 cities. Based on the land use and land cover data in 1980, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010 and 2015 and the corresponding elevation data, we assessed ecological conditions and its temporal dynamic evolution and spatial differentiation characteristics with the ecological grade index method. The effects of the elevation differentiation and land-sea gradient on the ecological condition in China's coastal areas were analyzed. The results showed that the ecological conditions of China's coastal areas were basically stable and deteriorated on the whole although partially improved from 1980 to 2015. With Hangzhou Bay as a boundary-belt, ecological conditions in southern parts were better than that in the northern parts. The ecological grade index differed significantly with the variation of elevation. The areas with elevation below 10 m were in rela-tively poor ecological condition, and the regions below 30 m had the most obvious changes of ecological conditions. Moreover, the ecological conditions increased with elevation, with a gradual turnaround trend of improvement at above 400 m. There was a gradient characteristic of the ecological grade index in China's coastal areas, showing a high-low-high pattern from land to sea. Furthermore, the maximum value of ecological condition changes appeared at a distance of 10 km to the coastline, and the values decreased with the increasing of distance to the coastline.

Comparison of granulometric methods and sampling strategies used in marine habitat classification and Ecological Status assessment

MEPS Marine Ecology Progress Series Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsTheme Sections MEPS 411:215-230 (2010) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps08693 Effect of age on liver pathology and other diseases in flatfish: implications for assessment of marine ecological health status G. D. Stentiford*, J. P. Bignell, B. P. Lyons, J. E. Thain, S. W. Feist Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Weymouth Laboratory, Weymouth, Dorset DT4 8UB, UK *Email: grant.stentiford@cefas.co.uk ABSTRACT: Age at disease onset, a familiar concept in human medicine, has not been commonly discussed in relation to diseases of wildlife. Furthermore, while age has been anecdotally linked with disease susceptibility in aquatic animals (e.g. in aquaculture), little attention has been devoted to health of specific cohorts in wild aquatic animal populations. In an attempt to refine current approaches to marine environmental monitoring programmes that utilise fish diseases as a sentinel for ecological status, we have investigated age at onset for 10 disease variables in the flatfish Limanda limanda, a commonly utilised species in such programmes in Europe. By comparing the prevalence of these variables (including several associated with liver neoplasia) in different age classes from the same sites, we have demonstrated an increased propensity for ‘harm’ (a cumulative measure of multiple disease variables) with age. Furthermore, a comparison of age-matched cohorts from geographically distinct offshore marine sites revealed that this tendency for increased harm differs in magnitude between sites. In these scenarios, the age at onset for key disease variables (such as pre-neoplastic and neoplastic pathologies of the liver) also differs between sites, with some locations containing populations with apparently increased susceptibility in younger age classes. We conclude that while age is an important variable when assessing fish population health status, it does not explain all of the differences in disease prevalence observed in natural populations, and further, that age-matched cohorts from certain populations have a higher propensity for disease than fish of the same age from other sites. The basis for these differences in susceptibility is discussed in relation to the prevailing burden of anthropogenic contaminants and to other natural factors (such as population genetics and migration) inherent in sampled populations. KEY WORDS: Assessment tool · Harm score · Liver cancer · Infectious disease · Marine monitoring · Cohort tracking · Flatfish · Age · Otolith Full text in pdf format PreviousNextCite this article as: Stentiford GD, Bignell JP, Lyons BP, Thain JE, Feist SW (2010) Effect of age on liver pathology and other diseases in flatfish: implications for assessment of marine ecological health status. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 411:215-230. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps08693 Export citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in MEPS Vol. 411. Online publication date: July 29, 2010 Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599 Copyright © 2010 Inter-Research.

According to Marine Strategy Framework Directive the assessment of marine ecosystems’ environmental status is performed with 11 Descriptors, which are based on biological, physical and chemical parameters. The biological indexes are calculated based on taxonomic structure and distribution of eukaryotic communities. Meanwhile, bacterioplankton is sensitive to anthropogenic impact and is thus a promising indicator of aquatic environment status. We have tested the utility of ecological pressure index (Pi) calculated with chemical data and bacterial community-based index (microgAMBI) for the assessment of Black sea waters ecological status. According to our estimations Pi varied depending on the chemical data used for its calculation, which indicates the necessity of using a wide range of xenobiotics in complex ecological status assessment. MicrogAMBI indicated that the Black sea surface waters can be characterized by “good” environmental status. “Moderate”, “poor” and “bad” ecological status was shown for 3 stations, yet there were no significant region-specific differences between the shelf zone and the open water. Actinomycetales, Halomonadaceae and Shewanella relative abundance was associated with higher microgAMBI estimations and respectively with worse ecological status. Meanwhile, positive correlation was found between Synechococcus, Acidimicrobiaceae, Pelagibacteraceae, Rhodobacteraceae, Microbacteriaceae, Polaribacter, Rhodothermaceae and Chloroflexi abundance and “good” ecological status. Microbial metagenomic data is promising for the complex assessmnet of Black sea waters ecological status, however, more research is needed to validate this approach. The development of metagenomic databases will contribite to increase in precision of microgAMBI calculation and subsequent ecological status analysis.

The European Water Framework Directive provides a challenge in the development of new and accurate methodologies. It addresses assessment of Ecological Quality Status within European rivers, lakes, groundwaters, estuaries and coasts. Although this directive is simple and flexible in its concept, it is necessary to develop an approach based upon scientific knowledge; however, at the same time it should be as simple as possible, in order to achieve both requirements and comparability of results throughout European waters. This contribution presents a methodological approach to the problem, as used for rivers of the Salerno District (southern Italy), in: selecting typologies and reference conditions; determining biological quality and ecological status; and identifying some problems in implementing the WFD. As such, the present paper could serve as the basis for a discussion document for other regions and countries, throughout Europe.

A preliminary species checklist of ferns and lycophytes in the upper montane forest of Mt. Balatukan, Gingoog City, Southern Philippines was provided, including their conservation and ecological status assessments. Specimens were collected through repeated transect walks. Species inventory revealed a total of 112 species (16 were lycophytes and 97 were ferns) belonging to 61 genera and 23 families. The top five families with the highest species richness are Polypodiaceae, Lycopodiaceae, Dryopteridaceae, Hymenophyllaceae, and Lindsaeaceae. In addition, most of the collected specimens were terrestrial and epiphytic. In terms of its conservation status and ecological status, out of 16 threatened species, seven are endangered (Phlegmariurus salvinoides, P. squarossus, Dicksonia mollis, Lepisorus platyrhynchos, Ophioglossum ramosii, O. pendulum, and Tmesipteris zamorarum), five are vulnerable (Alsophila fuliginousa, Asplenium vittaeforme, Aglaomorpha cornucopia, Botrychium daucifolium, and Sphaeropteris elmeri), three are other wildlife species (Lindsaea apoensis, Polystichum elmeri, and Callisopteris apiifolia), and only one other threatened species (Angiopteris evecta). Lastly, nine species of pteridophytes are widely distributed in the Philippines, and one species is narrowly distributed in Mindanao, with the family Lindsaeaceae and Polypodiaceae having the highest number of endemic species.

The study is warranted by the need to improve the methods for assessing the ecological and geoecological status of natural features as complex systems for various combinations of their composition, properties, and priorities of evaluative research. Traditionally, when solving the problem of selecting a normalization function as a stage in constructing integral indicators, scientific publications do not discuss the nature of the relationship (direct or inverse) or the possibility of accounting for nonlinearity between the system’s parameters and the property under assessment. This paper demonstrates a comparison of the results of an integrated ecological status assessment obtained by various classification models, taking into account both linear and nonlinear methods of representing the relationship between parameters and system properties in normalization functions. The comparison was performed at the level of quantitative estimates of sub-indices and the final value of the integrated water body ecological status indicator (IESI). The key water body selected for this study is Lake Volkhovskoe (Suuri) on northern Karelian Isthmus. An extensive database was compiled for this lake, including physical, chemical, and biological arameters related to the trophic status, water quality, toxic contamination, and potential resilience, which allowed for an assessment of its ecological status. The first task was to determine how much the values of the trophic sub-index (TSI) would change upon factoring in a nonlinear relationship between evaluation criteria and the trophic index. The variants considering different degrees of nonlinearity λ in the normalization functions presented in this paper included only positive values: 0.5; 1.0; 1.5; 2.0; 3.0. The main challenge for future assessments is to substantiate an appropriate value for this parameter for each criterion considered. Experiments were conducted in a simplified form. The parameter λ was set to a single value for all criteria included in the TSI sub-index.The second task was to determine how much the IESI would change when accounting for nonlinearity in the TSI index and adjusting the priorities (weights) assigned to TSI during the final convolution stage. Meanwhile, linear relationships between parameters and system properties were maintained for other sub-indices (water quality sub-index WQTPI and potential resilience sub-index WBRI) throughout all convolution steps. The calculations are presented both graphically and in tabular form. The study revealed that a reduction in λ, and thus in nonlinearity, shifts values on the IESI evaluation scale to the right, while an increasing in λ causes a shift to the left on this scale. Variations in both nonlinearity degree and priority (weight) assigned to TSI during IESI assessment were considered.

Upland headwater streams are dynamic systems, responding rapidly to changes in climatic conditions. This study examined the effects of a catastrophic rainfall event, that occured on 24 October 2011 on the east coast of Ireland, on the macroinvertebrate community composition and structure of four headwater streams in the river Liffey catchment located in the Wicklow Mountains. The ecological status before and after the storm were also evaluated. The water level and pH of each stream were recorded using continuous monitoring equipment, while rainfall data for the study period were sourced from a local weather station. Benthic macroinvertebrates were investigated before and after the storm event using Surber sampling. Results showed rapid and large increases in water level and significant declines in stream pH in response to intensive rainfall during the storm. The high water levels also caused major physical damage and abrasion in all four streams, that significantly altered instream habitats. The storm event induced significant losses to the richness and/or density of most taxonomic groups, with the exception of the Plecoptera. Furthermore, the overall community composition and structure changed significantly, most likely as a result of physical disturbance, given the relative persistence of acid-sensitive taxa and the relatively short period of harsh acidic conditions (<5 pH). Interestingly however, the ecological status of each of the four study sites, tested using Stream Risk Score (SSRS), Biological Monitoring Working Party (BMWP) and the Average Score Per Taxon (ASPT) indices, was unaltered by the loss in richness and densities. This was likely a result of the maintenance of plecopteran richness and the absence of organic pollution, thus highlighting the need to develop appropriate indices to assess the ecological status of streams and rivers affected by physical disturbance caused by large storm events. Ultimately, catastrophic storm events in upland headwater streams have potentially major implications for the maintanence of regional macroinvertebrate diversity within affected regions.

Diatoms, unlike other algal groups (non-diatoms), are routinely used for ecological status assessment under the Water Framework Directive. The ecological status of the Despotovica River was assessed using epilithic diatoms (IPS, CEE index), non-diatoms (BI index) and physico-chemical parameters. At four sites in autumn 2023 and spring 2024, 99 algal taxa (76 diatoms, 23 non- diatoms) were identified. The ecological status class ranged from I to V based on the physico-chemical parameters, while it ranged from I to IV based on the diatom and BI indices. The BI index results aligned more closely with the physico-chemical data than the diatom indices, suggesting potential for further application.

Efficacy of adapted estuarine fish-based multimetric indices as tools for evaluating ecological status of the marine environment

Response of rocky shore communities to anthropogenic pressures in Albania (Mediterranean Sea): Ecological status assessment through the CARLIT method

Ecological status assessment and response of benthic communities to environmental variability: The Valli di Comacchio (Italy) as a study case

The European Union (EU)’s Water Framework Directive (WFD) requires that all Member States participate in intercalibration exercises in order to ensure that ecological status concepts and assessment levels are consistent across the EU. This paper describes one such exercise, performed by the countries in the Central/Baltic Geographical Intercalibration Group stretching from Ireland in the west to Estonia in the east and from the southern parts of Scandinavia to the northern regions of Spain and Italy (but excluding alpine regions, which were intercalibrated separately). In this exercise, methods used to measure ecological status of rivers using benthic diatoms were compared. Ecological status is estimated as the ratio between the observed value of a biological element and the value expected in the absence of significant human impact. Approaches to defining the ‘reference sites’, from which these ‘expected’ values were derived, varied from country to country. Minimum criteria were established as part of the exercise but there was still considerable variation between national reference values, reflecting typological differences that could not be resolved during the exercise. A simple multimetric index was developed to compare boundary values using two widely used diatom metrics. Boundary values for high/good status and good/moderate status set by each participant were converted to their equivalent values of this intercalibration metric using linear regression. Variation of ±0.05 EQR units around the median value was considered to be acceptable and the exercise provided a means for those Member States who fell significantly above or below this line to review their approaches and, if necessary, adjust their boundaries.

Based on the inclusion of macroalgae in the European Union Water Framework Directive as quality elements for the evaluation of the ecological status of coastal waters, the suitability of one (Ecological Evaluation Index, EEI) of several previously proposed evaluation methods in the particular ecological conditions of the northern Adriatic Sea was tested. The EEI was assessed for 10 locations (polluted and putatively pristine) scattered along 60 km of the western Istrian coast. The sampling was performed seasonally at 1 and 3 m depth by destructive (determination of species cover and biomass) and non‐destructive (determination of species coverage using digital photography) methods. When assessed at 1 m depth the spatial scale weighted EEI for the west Istrian coast was 8.1, corresponding to an ecological status class (ESC) value of high. However, data for 3 m depth gave a spatial EEI of 6.72 which corresponds to an ESC value of good. Regressions of the ratio of ecological state group I (ESG I, i.e. thick leathery, calcareous and crustose species) over total algal abundance with the pollution gradient (obtained using principal components analysis (PCA) ordination of environmental variables) were significant at 3 m but not at 1 m depth. This was due to the high abundance of ESG I macroalgae Corallina elongata and Cystoseira compressa at 1 m depth at polluted stations. Similar regressions were obtained using cover, biomass and coverage. It is concluded that the EEI method may be suitable for the classification of coastal waters in the northern Adriatic only in certain cases. A better assessment of ecological status using this method would require more realistic estimations based on the inclusion of data from several sampling depths. As all three abundance measures (cover, biomass, coverage) gave similar results, coverage (using digital photography) is suggested as being a preferred measure owing to the rapidity of sampling at several depths and less time‐consuming laboratory work. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The control of phytoplankton growth is mainly related to the availability of light and nutrients. Both may select phytoplankton species, but only if they occur in limiting amounts. During the last decade, the functional groups approach, based on the physiological, morphological and ecological attributes of the species, has proved to be a more efficient way to analyze seasonal changes in phytoplankton biomass. We analysed the dynamics of the phytoplankton functional groups sensu Reynolds, recognising the driving forces (light, mixing regime, and nutrients) in the Sau Reservoir, based on a one–year cycle (monthly surface-water sampling). The Sau Reservoir is a Mediterranean water-supply reservoir with a canyon-shaped basin and a clear and mixed epilimnion layer. The long stratification period and high light availability led to high phytoplankton biomass (110.8 fresh-weight mg L −1) in the epilimnion during summer. The reservoir showed P-limitation for phytoplankton growth in this period. All functional groups included one or more species ( X2- Rhodomonas spp.; Y- Cryptomonas spp.; F- Oocystis lacustris; K- Aphanocapsa spp.) selected by resources, especially phosphorus. Species of Cryptomonas (group Y) dominated during the mixing period (winter season) in conditions of low light and relatively high availability of dissolved nutrients. Increases in water-column stability during spring stratification led to phytoplankton biomass increases due to the dominance of small flagellate functional groups ( X2 and X3, chrysophyceans). The colonial chlorophycean O. lacustris (group F) peaked during the mid-summer stratification, when the mixed epilimnion was clearly depleted in nutrients, especially SRP. High temperature and increases in nutrient concentration during the end-summer and mid-autumn resulted in a decrease of green algae (group F) and increase of Aphanocapsa spp. (cyanobacteria, group K) and dinoflagellates (group L o ). The study also revealed the important role of physical processes in the seasonal gradient, in selecting phytoplankton functional groups, and consequently in the assessment of ecological status. The Q index (assemblage index) based on functional groups indicated the overall good ecological status of the Sau Reservoir, which varied as a function of the mixing regime. This is the first application of the Assemblage Index to a European water-supply reservoir.