Defining types of running waters in Germany using benthic algae: A prerequisite for monitoring according to the Water Framework Directive

Foerster, Julia; Gutowski, Antje; Schaumburg, Jochen

doi:10.1023/b:japh.0000047952.31906.c8

Cited by 26 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…In contrast, nondiatom benthic algae are less studied and, therefore, many topics in periphyton ecology remain uninvestigated (Larned, 2010). However, numerous studies have proven their relationships with environmental variables (Griffith et al, 2002;Foerster et al, 2004;Hering et al, 2006;Porter et al, 2008;Schneider & Lindstrøm, 2009, 2011 suggesting benefits of inclusion of benthic non-diatom algae in biomonitoring efforts. Benthic algae are regarded as an important biological component of routine monitoring of the ecological status of rivers in European Water Management (European Communities (EC), 2000) and ongoing national biomonitoring programs of the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (USEPA) Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP; http://www.epa.gov/emap) and the United States Geological Survey's (USGS) National Water-Quality Assessment Program (NAWQA; http://water.usgs.gov/nawqa).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A novel quantification method for stream-inhabiting, non-diatom benthic algae, and its application in bioassessment

2012

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Non-diatom benthic algae from 104 streams in southern California were studied. We present a novel method for quantification of non-diatom algae that seeks to improve upon two important aspects of existing methods: separate processing of macroalgae and microalgae to avoid sample blending and consequent loss of macroalgal integrity, and for better viewing, counting a well-mixed microalgal subsample on a standard microscope slide instead of using a counting chamber. Our method provided high-quality taxonomic and quantitative data with low uncertainty. A total of 260 algal taxa were recorded, 180 of which were identified to species level. The median total algal biovolume per site was 22.7 mm 3 cm -2 (range: \0.001-836.9 mm 3 cm -2 ), the median species number was 11 (range: 2-43). Total algal biovolume and species number correlated with canopy cover (negative) and water temperature (positive), but not with measured water chemistry constituents. The proportion of heterocystous cyanobacteria and Zygnemataceae were strongly negatively correlated with nitrate concentrations and TN. The proportion of red algae was negatively correlated with TP. Species optima calculations combined with indicator species analysis identified [40 algal species as potential indicators of nutrient conditions. Proposed here is a practical tool for non-diatom algal quantification that enhances its application to stream bioassessment.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A novel quantification method for stream-inhabiting, non-diatom benthic algae, and its application in bioassessment

2012

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“…Sex induction of Vaucheria can be done quite easily; however, for most surveys it seemed to be too time consuming (Foerster et al 2004). The major aim of this study was to fill this knowledge gap for some Vaucheria.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Autecology and morphology of selected Vaucheria species (Xanthophyceae)

Schagerl

Kerschbaumer

2008

Aquat Ecol

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In this study, the yellow-green alga Vaucheria was collected from 86 sites with different environmental characteristics. A principal component analysis of the sites revealed a model with four principal components explaining 64.7% of the total variance in the data set. The principal components were interpreted as nutrient enrichment, ions, current, and buffer capacity. In total, seven Vaucheria species were found: V. taylorii, V. debaryana, V. sessilis, V. geminata, V. terrestris, V. walzii, and V. woroniniana. V. taylorii was noted only three times, V. terrestris occured exclusively at terrestrial sites, the remaining taxa were frequent. Vaucheria seems to have its optimal growth at lower temperatures; in the cold season thick covers were observed, which exceeded the abundance in summer. A discriminant analysis revealed that growth types are highly explained by current; high flow velocity favors the development of pads. Species occurrence along artificial gradients consisting of the obtained principal components were analyzed simultaneously by means of a canonical correspondence analysis. V. sessilis occurred widely with no preferences, but three species showed a distinct pattern within the gradient analysis: V. woroniniana mainly occurred at elevated pH and total alkalinity, V. walzii was favored by increased ion contents and slow current, and V. geminata clearly preferred unpolluted sites with decreased pH and alkalinity values. This species may be used as an indicator species for unpolluted locations, however some taxonomic uncertainties remain to be first resolved.

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“…Para el caso de la comunidad de las algas bentónicas y su valor indicador, esta sistematización se ha concretado en protocolos de estudio tales como los de Van Dam et al (1994), Foerster et al (2004), Cambra et al (2005), Birk et al (2006) y Tornés et al (2007. Las comunidades de algas bentónicas son sensibles a los cambios químicos en el agua, son fáciles de obtener y se pueden evaluar cuantitativamente.…”

Section: Introductionunclassified

Estudio Del Valor Indicador De Las Comunidades De Algas Bentónicas: Una Propuesta De Evaluación Y Aplicación en El Río Magdalena, Ciudad De México

Jiménez

Rodríguez

Bojorge-García

et al. 2016

Rev. Int. Contam. Ambie.

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The application and development of environmental laws governing watershed management requires identification of biological indicators, parameters and measures to establish its ecological status, for which the present study aims to characterize the ecological indicator value of stream benthic algae in an urban area of Mexico City. Six sites of the Magdalena river were studied in the most contrasting seasons: drywarm, rainy and dry-cold. At each site the physicochemical parameters of water were recorded and 10 samples were collected: Five with visible algal growths and five with diatoms. The environmental quality of each site was determined by the trophic status and its confirmation with the richness and benthic algal diversity, through a canonical correspondence analysis and the calculation of the indicator value of species (IndVal). According to the trophic status, three groups of sites were recognized. The first group (G1) was assessed as reference of the oligotrophic conditions and presented 11 species with the highest IndVal, protruding: Encyonema silesiacum, Gomphonema parvulum, Navicula cryptocephala, Planothidium lanceolatum, Vaucheria bursata, Placoma regulare and Nostoc parmelioides. A second group (G2) was associated with 15 species considered detectors, which were tolerant to increased nutrients in at least one season, such as Diatoma mesodon and Prasiola mexicana. The third group (G3) included sites with species that had a wide range of tolerance to pollution: Fistulifera saprophila, Nitzschia minuta, Nitzschia palea, Nitzschia recta and Phormidium autumnale. The species IndVal of Magdalena River has established reference sites of good environmental quality and those that are altered by human activities, therefore they are recommended as the first step in a methodological proposal for a long-term biomonitoring through a biological index.

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Defining types of running waters in Germany using benthic algae: A prerequisite for monitoring according to the Water Framework Directive

Cited by 26 publications

References 18 publications

A novel quantification method for stream-inhabiting, non-diatom benthic algae, and its application in bioassessment

A novel quantification method for stream-inhabiting, non-diatom benthic algae, and its application in bioassessment

Autecology and morphology of selected Vaucheria species (Xanthophyceae)

Estudio Del Valor Indicador De Las Comunidades De Algas Bentónicas: Una Propuesta De Evaluación Y Aplicación en El Río Magdalena, Ciudad De México

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