A pragmatic approach to define the ecological potential of water bodies heavily modified by the presence of ports

Ondiviela, Bárbara Ruiz; Gómez, Alberto Luís; Puente, Araceli; Juanes, José A.

doi:10.1016/j.envsci.2013.07.001

Cited by 21 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…It is important to note that the assessment scale in this study was lessened in comparison to the scale for NWBs since the environmental objectives for HMWBs and AWBs should be less strict than for NWBs. Likewise, in the case of transitional water bodies, Borja et al [51] found that present MEP values should lie at around 75% of the natural reference conditions for biological quality elements, while Ondiviela et al [52] calculated MEP as the 90th, 75th or 25th percentile value calculated at reference sites with undisturbed or minimally disturbed hydromorphological conditions.…”

Section: Selection Of Indicators For the Assessment Of Hydromorpholog...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Methodological Framework for Assessing Hydromorphological Conditions of Heavily Modified and Artificial River Water Bodies in Croatia

Pavlek

Plantak²,

Martinić

et al. 2023

Water

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Water Framework Directive (WFD) guidance documents from 2019 provide a comprehensive review of methods and guidelines to improve the comparability of heavily modified water bodies (HMWBs) in the European Union. However, there is currently no common, single methodology for monitoring HMWBs and artificial water bodies (AWBs) or for determining maximum (MEP) and good ecological potential (GEP). This study presents the first assessment of hydromorphological conditions of HMWBs and AWBs in Croatia based on type-specific indicators. The typology of HMWBs and AWBs was based on distinct hydromorphological characteristics and modifications in order to be easily related to the uses of the water bodies. The classes of hydromorphological potential were graded from the theoretical MEP, which was determined by the score scale as the tolerated deviation from natural reference conditions, considering potential mitigation measures. The use of the water body and/or the effects on the wider environment were considered while determining MEP and choosing indicators included in monitoring and assessment. In the case of AWBs, the parameters dependent on natural reference conditions, which are non-existent, were omitted from the assessment. Only 27% of HMWBs and 2 out of 51 AWBs achieved good potential for all three hydromorphological elements. The most significant hydromorphological modifications include channelization, straightening, deepening and removal of riparian vegetation due to flood-protection management practices. In order to achieve the environmental objectives set out by the WFD, the Croatian water management system has to start implementing mitigation measures, especially related to natural flood management.

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Section: Selection Of Indicators For the Assessment Of Hydromorpholog...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Methodological Framework for Assessing Hydromorphological Conditions of Heavily Modified and Artificial River Water Bodies in Croatia

Pavlek

Plantak²,

Martinić

et al. 2023

Water

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“…However, the real environmental conditions should be quantified through a regular monitoring of the environmental quality. Traditionally, the evaluation of the quality of water systems has been conducted by sampling and laboratory analysis and abiotic and biotic indices (Ponti et al, 2009;Ondiviela et al, 2013). Nowadays, data of environmental quality from monitoring programs, satellite images or forecast models could be used to calibrate the MERA process.…”

Section: Challenges Of Applying Mera At a Global Scalementioning

confidence: 99%

A global atlas of the environmental risk of marinas on water quality

Valdor

Gómez

Kerléguer

et al. 2019

Marine Pollution Bulletin

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Estimating the potential environmental risks of worldwide coastal recreational navigation on water quality is an important step towards designing a sustainable global market. This study proposes the creation of a global atlas of the environmental risk of marinas on water quality by applying the Marina Environmental Risk Assessment (MERA) procedure. Calculations integrate three main risk factors: Pressure, State and Response. Applying the MERA approach to 105 globally distributed marinas has confirmed the utility, versatility and adaptability of this procedure as a novel tool to compare the environmental risks within and among regions (i.e. for area-based management), to identify the world's best practices (i.e. to optimize existing management) and to understand and adjust global risks in future development (i.e. improved planning).

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“…On the other hand, port facilities are types of activities that can result in a water body designated as a Heavily Modified Water Body (HMWB, Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC, WFD). Human activities to support specific uses (e.g., navigation) have indeed caused physical alterations (i.e., dredging, confinement) in the water body (i.e., port) basically modifying its hydromorphological properties (Ondiviela et al, 2012(Ondiviela et al, , 2013. The peculiar features of HMWBs justify the development of monitoring and remediation programs specific and adequate to port characteristics.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impacts of Anthropogenic Pollutants on Benthic Prokaryotic Communities in Mediterranean Touristic Ports

et al. 2020

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Ports and marinas are central nodes in transport network and play a strategic role in coastal development. They receive pollution from land-based sources, marine traffic and port infrastructures on one side and constitute a potential pollution source for the adjacent coastal areas on the other. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of organic and inorganic co-contamination on the prokaryotic communities in sediments from three Mediterranean ports. The structure and composition of the bacterial and archaeal communities were assessed by targeted metagenomic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene, and the links of prokaryotic communities with environmental and pollution variables were investigated. The harbors presented pronounced site-specificity in the environmental properties and pollution status. Consistently, the structure of archaeal and bacterial communities in surface sediments exhibited a strong spatial variation among the three investigated ports. On the contrary, a wide overlap in composition of prokaryotic assemblages among sites was found, but local variation in the community composition and loss of prokaryotic diversity was highlighted in a heavily impacted port sector near a shipyard. We provided evidences that organic matter, metals and PAHs as well as temperature and salinity play a strong role in structuring benthic bacterial communities significantly contributing to the understanding of their responses to anthropogenic perturbations in marine coastal areas. Among metals, copper was recognized as strongly associated with the observed changes in bacterial assemblages. Overall, this study provides the first assessment of the effects exerted by multiple organic and inorganic contaminations on benthic prokaryotes in ports over a large spatial scale and designates bacterial community as a candidate tool for the monitoring of the sediment quality status in harbors.

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A pragmatic approach to define the ecological potential of water bodies heavily modified by the presence of ports

Cited by 21 publications

References 21 publications

Methodological Framework for Assessing Hydromorphological Conditions of Heavily Modified and Artificial River Water Bodies in Croatia

Methodological Framework for Assessing Hydromorphological Conditions of Heavily Modified and Artificial River Water Bodies in Croatia

A global atlas of the environmental risk of marinas on water quality

Impacts of Anthropogenic Pollutants on Benthic Prokaryotic Communities in Mediterranean Touristic Ports

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