Carolin Meier & Daniel Hering (University of Duisburg-Essen) Ecological classification in Germany using the example of the german river assessment system with benthic invertebrates (PERLODES) Carolin Meier & Daniel Hering (University of Duisburg-Essen)

Content Concept Development Implementation and application Combination of the biological quality elements Role of physico-chemical elements

Content Concept Development Implementation and application Combination of the biological quality elements Role of physico-chemical elements

Ephemera danica Müller, 1864 Concept Locomotion type: borrowing Microhabitat: sand (Psammal) Habitat: lowland and mountain rivers which are hydromorphologically divers Feeding type: active filter feeder Demands of the adult: landmarks for swarming Reaction to stress: high oxygen demand, acid-intolerant Ephemera danica Müller, 1864

Forms of impairment („stressors“) Concept Forms of impairment („stressors“) Eutrophication Land use Hydro-morphological degradation Organic pollution Microhabitat degradation Acidification

Forms of impairment („stressors“) Concept Forms of impairment („stressors“) Eutrophication Land use Hydro-morphological degradation Organic pollution Microhabitat degradation Acidification

} Stressor-specific assessment Concept Reference condition Need for action } Assessment formula Information on the saprobic status acidic status Information on other stressors Ecological status Taxalist

} Modul “Organic Pollution” Modul “Acidification” Concept Stressor-specific assessment Reference condition Modul “Organic Pollution” Assessment formula Information on the saprobic status acidic status Information on other stressors Ecological status Modul “Acidification” Taxalist Modul “General Degradation” } Need for action

Stressor-specific assessment Concept Stressor-specific assessment Information on the saprobic status acidic status Information on other stressors German Standard DIN 38410 (1992) Acid quality classes according to Braukmann & Biss (2004) Taxalist Stream type specific assessment - formulas: Metric 1 Metric 2 Metric 3 ...

Content Concept Development - of the module „General Degradation“ - of PERLODES Implementation and application Combination of the biological quality elements Role of physico-chemical elements

Selection of metrics Development module „General Degradation“ Calculation of ca. 80 metrics with each taxalist Database 1 Taxalists Database 2 Abiotic site data land use in the catchment - hydromorphological quality Correlation analysis Selection of parameters, which indicate the effects of degradation

Selection of metrics Development module „General Degradation“ Calculation of ca. 80 metrics with every taxalist Selection of candidate metrics Correlation analysis Selection of parameters, which indicate the effects of degradation

Selection of metrics Development module „General Degradation“ Calculation of ca. 80 metrics with every taxalist Selection of candidate metrics Selection of core metrics Correlation analysis Selection of parameters, which indicate the effects of degradation

Calculation of the Quality Class Development module „General Degradation“ Calculation of the Quality Class Calculation of the metric results Transfer of each result into a value between 0 and 1 (score) Calculation of the Multimetric Index as the weighted mean of the scores: Fauna-Index accounts for 50% of the final result Transfer of the Multimetric Index into a Quality Class: . high > 0.8 . good > 0.6-0.8 . moderate > 0.4-0.6 . poor > 0.2-0.4 . bad <= 0.2

} Calculation of the Ecological Quality Class Development PERLODES Reference condition Measures } Information about organic pollution acidification general degradation Value Ecological Quality Class Taxalist

Calculation of the Ecological Quality Class Development PERLODES Calculation of the Ecological Quality Class The Ecological Quality Class is calculated from the results of the individual modules: . Module “Organic Pollution” = “high” or “good”: combination of the modules by the worst case principle . Module “Organic Pollution” = “moderate”, “poor” or “bad”: organic pollution is likely to affect the module “general degradation” too; in these cases the result of the module “general degradation” might be corrected by additional criteria; afterwards, the end result is calculated by the worst case principle

Content Concept Development Implementation and application Combination of the biological quality elements Role of physico-chemical elements

Tools for implementation and application Implementation + application Tools for implementation and application The website [http://www.fliessgewaesserbewertung.de] A manual for application Training materials The software ASTERICS (AQEM/STAR Ecological River Classification System)

Content Concept Development Implementation and application Combination of the biological quality elements Role of physico-chemical elements

Indication potential of organism groups Combination Indication potential of organism groups Organic pollution Eutrophication Acidification Hydro-morphology Habitat patch Early warning Catchment Late warning

Hering et al., Hydrobiologia (2006) 566:109-113 Combination Indication potential of organism groups Eutrophication Pollution Land use Hydro-morphology Microhabitats General degradation Hering et al., Hydrobiologia (2006) 566:109-113

Combination of the biological quality elements Different organism groups indicate different stress types on different scales. Therefore the one-out all-out principle will be used on the quality element level (according to the WFD CIS Guidance document No. 13 "Overall approach to the classification of ecological status and ecological potential").

Combination WFD CIS Guidance document No. 13 "Overall approach to the classification of ecological status and ecological potential" (Fig. 3, p. 11)

Content Concept Development Implementation and application Combination of the biological quality elements Role of physico-chemical elements

Differentiation between background and orientation values ... Physico-chemical elements Differentiation between background and orientation values ... . Background values: between high and good status . Orientation values: between good and moderate status/potential ... are not binding only if: 1. The level or range for a physico-chemical quality element has been exceeded in a significant number of water bodies in the type as a result of anthropogenic alterations where the monitoring results for the biological quality elements are better than moderate status/potential and 2. the biological methods being used in the monitoring are sensitive to the effects of anthropogenic changes in the condition of the physico-chemical quality element on the values for the biological quality elements and the functioning of the ecosystem and 3. there is no delay before the biological effects of the range or level being exceeded are reflected in the biological monitoring results.

Background values for rivers (Draft from March 2007) Physico-chemical elements Background values for rivers (Draft from March 2007) + temperature

Orientation values for rivers (Draft from March 2007) Physico-chemical elements Orientation values for rivers (Draft from March 2007) + temperature

Conclusions In general the classification according to WFD CIS Guidance document No. 13 "Overall approach to the classification of ecological status and ecological potential“ works well in Germany.

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