A stressor specific multimetric approach for monitoring running waters in Austria using benthic macro-invertebrates

Ofenböck, Thomas; Moog, Otto; Gerritsen, Jeroen; Barbour, Michael T.

doi:10.1023/b:hydr.0000025269.74061.f9

Cited by 116 publications

(36 citation statements)

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“…Our results indicated that EPT taxa richness was of moderate strength for discriminating impairment. EPT (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera) taxa richness has been widely used as indicators of environmental disturbances (Wallace and Webster 1996;Klemm et al 2002) and is combined within several multimetric indices (Barbour et al 1999;Ofenböck et al 2004). Our study showed that a slight increase in EPT richness occurred at slightly impaired test sites thus counfounding assessments.…”

Section: Subsample Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The multimetric approach is the most frequently used by water resource agencies in the USA, because it provides ecological information that is readily translated to water quality managers . Recently, this approach has been widely used in several other countries (Thorne and Williams 1997;Ofenböck et al 2004;Vlek et al 2004;Morse et al 2007). Similar to the multimetric approaches, multivariate approaches rely on statistical analyses to compare between patterns observed at a test site and pattern expected in the absence of human impact (Norris 1995).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Development of rapid bioassessment approaches using benthic macroinvertebrates for Thai streams

Boonsoong

Sangpradub

Barbour

2008

Environ Monit Assess

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Thailand currently lacks formal bioassessment approaches and protocols to assist management decisions for water quality. The aim of this research is to develop a practical method of rapid bioassessment for a professional level by using benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages for streams in Thailand. Eleven reference and nine test sites were sampled in the headwater streams of the Loei River and adjacent areas to explore the development of a practical protocol. Specific physico-chemical parameters were selected to provide ecological information supplemental to the biological indicators. The biological research was designed around the USEPA Rapid Bioassessment Protocols (RBPs) using the multi-habitat approach. Four fixed-count subsamplings (100, 200, 300 and 500 organisms) were randomly conducted using a standardized gridded pan to evaluate an appropriate level for bioassessment in Thai streams. A 300 organism subsample is adequate for bioassessment purposes in Thai stream (evaluated by calculating dissimilarity values and ordination techniques). A systematic selection of candidate reference sites, metric selection, and index calibration was part of this research. Multimetric and multivariate analyses were examined as a foundation for bioassessment in Thailand. The multimetric approach appears to be more practical for a rapid bioassessment technique. Nine core metrics were identified for biological index score including number of total taxa, Diptera taxa, Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera, and Coleoptera taxa, (%) Plecoptera, (%) Tolerant organisms, Beck's Biotic Index, (%) Intolerant organisms, Shredders taxa and Clingers taxa were calibrated for the final index. As a result of multimetric and multivariate analyses, family level identification data effectively discriminated reference condition and broad-scale environmental gradients. Hampered by incomplete taxonomic knowledge of benthic macroinvertebrates in Thailand, family-level identification may be sufficient taxonomic resolution for rapid bioassessment in Thailand.

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Section: Subsample Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development of rapid bioassessment approaches using benthic macroinvertebrates for Thai streams

Boonsoong

Sangpradub

Barbour

2008

Environ Monit Assess

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“…The sudden dominance by B. rhodani may have simply been to population dynamics (Humpesch, 1979), or determined by the spate that occurred 1 month prior (Boulton et al, 1992). Such erratic fluctuations in evenness led many authors to question the reliability of diversity indices in bioassessment (Lenat, 1983), and locate richness measures among the best indicators to detect water degradation (Sandin and Johnson, 2000;Ofenböck et al, 2004). Overall, our findings lend support to the opinion of Collier and Quinn (2003) that regular sampling is required to obtain valuable assessments because population dynamics, hydraulic regime and natural disturbance may result in marked changes in the macroinvertebrate community and lead to misguided conclusions about the effects of human impact on stream ecosystems.…”

Section: Temporal Variabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Point source effects on density, biomass and diversity of benthic macroinvertebrates in a Mediterranean stream

Ortiz¹,

Puig²

2007

River Research & Apps

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We sampled benthic macroinvertebrates above and below a point source effluent in La Tordera stream (NE, Spain) over [2001][2002] to assess the effects of nutrient enrichment on the structure, and taxonomic composition of the benthic macroinvertebrate community. Below the point source, discharge, specific conductance and nutrient concentrations were higher than at the upstream reach, while dissolved oxygen (DO) decreased. Macroinvertebrate density was higher at the downstream reach than at the upstream reach on most dates but the two reaches did not differ in macroinvertebrate biomass.On average, taxa richness at the upstream reach was 20% higher than at the downstream reach. Several taxa, especially mayflies, stoneflies and caddisflies, were present only at the upstream reach. Shannon diversity was similar between the two reaches on 50% of the dates. Ordination analysis clearly separated the samples of the upstream reach from the samples of the downstream reach in the first axis and corroborated the effect of the point source on the benthic community. The two reaches followed a similar temporal pattern with respect to the distribution of taxa along the second axis of the ordination analysis. Higher similarities between the two reaches in taxa composition, densities and biomass after the spates of April and May 2002, suggest that flooding events may act as a reset mechanism for benthic communities and play an important role in stream restoration.

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“…The multimetric approach was first developed by Karr (1981) (Karr's Index of Biotic Integrity) using fish as indicators to describe freshwater ecosystem quality. Since it, numerous multimetric indices have been developed (Ofenböck et al, 2004;Vlek et al, 2004;Hering et al, 2006;Delgado et al, 2010;Şerban and Ionuş, 2011;Helson and Williams, 2013;Mereta et al, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

More complexity does not always mean more accuracy: the case of IBMWP and METI in NW Spain

2014

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Since the Water Framework Directive (WFD) implementation, new biological indices based on macroinvertebrates have been developed, mainly focusing on multimetric approaches. This work checks the relationship among several biotic indices [Iberian Biological Monitoring Working Party (IBMWP), Indice Biotico Esteso, Indice Biologique Global Normalisé] and one multimetric index (METI) proposed for NW Spain rivers, and their behaviour using different physicochemical parameters throughout the different typologies defined for NW Spain rivers according to the WFD. It is also tested whether the reference sites and conditions established are representative enough of each typology comparing the IBMWP and METI in reference and non‐reference sampling sites. As a whole, the METI showed the lowest correlations with the rest of the indices, whereas the IBMWP showed the highest and all indices displayed negative correlations with those variables, which caused pollution in all typologies. Furthermore, it has been found sites with an index value higher than that of the reference sites and therefore in a better status than the selected reference sites, revealing several shortcomings in the selection of the reference sites in NW Spain and proving that a good selection of the reference sites is extremely important to produce successful results. Finally, the IBMWP has proved to be a useful tool to assess freshwater ecosystems in NW Spain showing how a simple index can be satisfactorily used to monitor ‘Ecological status’. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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A stressor specific multimetric approach for monitoring running waters in Austria using benthic macro-invertebrates

Cited by 116 publications

References 0 publications

Development of rapid bioassessment approaches using benthic macroinvertebrates for Thai streams

Development of rapid bioassessment approaches using benthic macroinvertebrates for Thai streams

Point source effects on density, biomass and diversity of benthic macroinvertebrates in a Mediterranean stream

More complexity does not always mean more accuracy: the case of IBMWP and METI in NW Spain

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