The development of a system to assess the ecological quality of streams based on macroinvertebrates - Design of the sampling programme within the AQEM project

Abstract

The EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) requires river assessment systems based on benthic invertebrates. The AQEM project is developing, at a European scale, such a methodology, based on a comparison of communities of reference streams and degraded streams. The project is focussing on three main impact types: morphological degradation, organic pollution and acidification. This paper presents the outline of the AQEM project with special emphasis on: - an overview of assessment systems with benthic invertebrates presently applied in Europe - an overview of stream typology approaches in Europe - the selection process of the stream types investigated in AQEM - the criteria used to select reference sites - the design of the sampling programme - the microhabitat-based sampling method applied in AQEM - the links and possibilities of integration between AQEM and existing assessment systems

Published in

International Review of Hydrobiology
2003, volume: 88, number: 3-4, pages: 345-361
Publisher: WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH

SLU Authors

• Johnson, Richard

  • Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Sandin, Leonard

  • Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Environmental Sciences and Nature Conservation

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/iroh.200390030

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/306