Exploring the robustness of macrophyte-based classification methods to assess the ecological status of coastal and transitional ecosystems under the Water Framework Directive

Mascaró, Oriol; Alcoverro, Teresa; Dencheva, Kristina; Díez, I.; Gorostiaga, J.M.; Balsby, Thorsten J. S.; Marbà, Núria; Muxika, Iñigo; Neto, João M.; Nikolić, Vedran; Orfanidis, Sotiris; Pedersen, A.; Pérez, Marta; Romero, Javier

doi:10.1007/s10750-012-1426-0

Cited by 26 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…The index is based on the same conceptual framework: anthropogenic pressures can cause a decrease in abundance or even the disappearance of the most sensitive species, while the most tolerant taxa will remain (e.g., Gorostiaga & Díez, 1996;Crowe et al, 2000;Mascaró et al, 2013). EEI-c provided a detailed taxonomic composition, structure and functioning of the macroalgal community, also providing better evidence of possible changes in the qualitative abundance of habitat-forming species O'Connor, 2013).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecological Quality Status of the Algiers coastal waters by using macroalgae assemblages as bioindicators (Algeria, Mediterranean Sea)

2018

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Macroalgal assemblages have been used as a quality element for the assessment of the ecological status classes (ESCs) in coastal water bodies for the implementation of the European Water Framework Directive (WFD, 2000/60/EC). To assess the suitability of this quality element in the coastal waters off Algiers, seven sampling sites with five (5) replications covering a wide range of anthropogenic pressures were studied during spring and summer 2015. Coverage data for the macroalgae at each sampling site were analyzed at the biological levels of species, i.e., structural (species number, nMDS, clustering, K-dominance and Simper analysis based on Bray-Curtis similarity), and ecological status groups, i.e., functional (nMDS, clustering, K-dominance, ecological evaluation index/EEI-c). Key water variables (temperature, salinity and pH) along with the anthropogenic stress index MALUSI were also estimated. The obtained results revealed a significant effect of anthropogenic stress on the macroalgal assemblages. The structural analysis showed the following: (1) species richness of 86 taxa in total; (2) dominance of Cystoseira amentacea var. stricta (late-successional) associated with Lithophyllum incrustans and Jania rubens at nonimpacted sites and with Ulva rigida, Ulva intestinalis and Caulerpa cylindracea (opportunistic) species at impacted sites; and (3) a higher proportion of low-abundance species in polluted communities than in less polluted communities. The functional analysis showed the following: (1) classification of sites based on multivariate and K-dominance analyses into four groups, three in agreement with the water degradation information and one in agreement with a low salinity influence; (2) classification of sites into "bad", "high", "moderate" and "good" ESCs based on the EEI-c index; and (3) a strong nonlinear relationship (R²=0.85) of the EEI-c index with the MALUSI index. Therefore, the EEI-c index will be a suitable tool to implement a national monitoring program within the scope the WFD along Algerian coasts.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecological Quality Status of the Algiers coastal waters by using macroalgae assemblages as bioindicators (Algeria, Mediterranean Sea)

2018

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“…Instead of using multi-parametric indexes developed as part of the European Water Framework Directive (i.e. ZONI, POMI, BIPO; KrauseJensen et al, 2005;Marbà et al, 2012;García-Marín et al, 2013;Mascaró et al, 2013) LAI standing was chosen as a proxy to evaluate a simple and common indicator such as cover in comparison with more theoretical concepts by using regrowth/recovery (critical slowing down) in the assessment of seagrass health and resilience (i.e. seagrass watch).…”

Section: Experimental Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The choice of indicators, as suggested by the European Water Framework Directive, should include several parameters at the individual, the population and the landscape scale (i.e. multiparametric indexes for seagrasses such as POMI, BIPO, and ZONI; Mascaró et al, 2013). The aim of our study was to investigate how a basic and simple indicator (as used in Seagrass watch but also in multi-parametric studies) could alone compare to a more theoretical approach (critical slowing down) in estimating seagrass health status and resilience.…”

Section: Seagrass Health Indicators: a Timing Effect?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Cover versus recovery: Contrasting responses of two indicators in seagrass beds

Soissons

Han

et al. 2014

Marine Pollution Bulletin

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a b s t r a c tDespite being a highly valuable key-stone ecosystem, seagrass meadows are threatened and declining worldwide, creating urgent need for indicators of their health status. We compared two indicators for seagrass health: standing leaf area index versus relative recovery from local disturbance. Disturbance was created by removing aboveground biomass and recording the rate of regrowth for Zostera marina meadows exposed to contrasting wave regimes and nutrient stress levels.Within the experimental period, relative regrowth in gaps was around 50% in most plots, except for the ambient nutrient treatment at the sheltered site, where it exceeded 100%. The two indicators showed an opposite response to disturbance: the higher the standing leaf area index, the lower the relative recovery from disturbance. This conflicting response raises the question on the proper interpretation of such indicators to estimate seagrass health and resilience, and how to ideally monitor seagrass ecosystems in order to predict collapse.

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“…This was used to identify, using uncertainty analysis, the major sources of uncertainty for coastal water classification (Mascaró et al, 2012b). The analyses were based on EQR datasets of either official or non-official bio-monitoring programmes of the different indices from which a dataset including sufficient temporal and spatial replication was available.…”

Section: Benthic Vegetation (Macroalgae and Seagrasses)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Transitional and coastal waters ecological status assessment: advances and challenges resulting from implementing the European Water Framework Directive

et al. 2012

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Exploring the robustness of macrophyte-based classification methods to assess the ecological status of coastal and transitional ecosystems under the Water Framework Directive

Cited by 26 publications

References 25 publications

Ecological Quality Status of the Algiers coastal waters by using macroalgae assemblages as bioindicators (Algeria, Mediterranean Sea)

Ecological Quality Status of the Algiers coastal waters by using macroalgae assemblages as bioindicators (Algeria, Mediterranean Sea)

Cover versus recovery: Contrasting responses of two indicators in seagrass beds

Transitional and coastal waters ecological status assessment: advances and challenges resulting from implementing the European Water Framework Directive

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