WFD Intercalibration Exercise within the Eastern Continental Region ECOSTAT 15-16 March 2006, Ispra

WFD Intercalibration – 2 Steps 1) EU Intercalibration with EU MS and AC in 2005/2006: Austria Slovak Republic Hungary Bulgaria Romania Czech Republic 2) Danube Intercalibration with other countries in the Danube river basin in 2007/2008: Croatia Serbia and Montenegro Bosnia i Herzegovina Moldova Ukraine

River Types in EC IC Region River characterisation Eco-region Catchment area Altitude Geology Substrate R-E1 Carpathians: small to medium, mid-altitude 10 10-1000 km² 500-800 m siliceous gravel and boulder  R-E2 Plains: medium-sized, lowland 11 and 12 100-1000 km² < 200 m sand and silt  R-E3 Plains: large and very large, lowland >1000 km² mixed sand, silt and gravel  R-E4 Plains: medium-sized, mid-altitude 200-500 m  sand and gravel R-E5 Balkans: medium-sized, mid-altitude 5, 6 and 7 calcareous  gravel R-E6 Danube River: middle and downstream >13,1000 km² < 134 m  gravel and sand

Timetable for Intercalibration 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Meeting

Facts and Decisions in EC GIG Definition of sub-basin and sub-unit report form

Meetings since last ECOSTAT Beginning of January two meetings in Bucharest on IC EU Enlargement Workshop on the intercalibration exercise in the Eastern Continental region 50 experts from EC GIG region participated EC GIG meeting Clear pictures on status of process (comparison with other GIGs), important conclusions and follow-up steps

Differences between countries Not all BQEs are sampled and assessed in DRB full intercalibration is hindered whole range of pressures not covered Methods and data sets different sampling methods in EC GIG countries determination level different (family or species level) yet not all EC GIG countries use WFD compliant methods for BQEs Differences in design and performance of national assessment complicates IC

Follow Up Decision within EC GIG Exclusively Macroinvertebrates were chosen as parameter for intercalibration exercise 2005/06 sampled and assessed in all participating countries within DRB intercalibration exercise will be continued after 2006 in order to include all BQEs and to complete the process

Follow Up Decision differences make direct comparison difficult Therefore, use of common metrics for IC analysis enable comparison of national class boundaries via translation into common scale different metrices were tested ICMi EC

Intercalibration Common Multimetric index for the Eastern Continental GIG (ICMi-EC) Purpose: Comparison of good class boundary values of national assessment methods country Name category AT Austrian Multimetric System MMI BG Bulgarian Biotic Index (Q-Scheme) BI CZ Czech Saprobic Index and PERLA SI+BI HU QI of Hungarian BMWP and ASPT RO Romanian Saprobic Index (Pantle & Buck) SI SK New Slovak Multimetric System not yet analysed General criteria: correlation with national assessment indices response to different anthropogenic pressures meeting requirements of WFD normative definitions operation on taxonomical level all countries can contribute data to

Analysis Status Definition of sub-basin and sub-unit report form

Analysis advanced – not finished yet Analysis Status Analysis advanced – not finished yet Diagramm zeigt separate Regressionen zw. Saprobic Index (RO) und dem Britischen “Average Score per Taxon (ASPT)” (gestrichelt) Saprobic Index (SK) und dem Britischen ASPT (durchgezogen) Zum ASPT: a. Allgemein gut mit der Organischen Belastung korrelierter Index auf Fam.-Niveau b. Zeigt höhere Korrelationen mit beiden Sis als der Tschechische ASPT (ursprünglich für R-E1 favorisiert) Ergebnistabelle: “RefVal” ist der von mir benutzte Median aus den von SK gemeldeten Stellen und den von RO gemeldeten Stellen (getrennt, wie bei der “common metric analyse” immer) Die Klassengrenzen (H/G und G/M) sind in relativen ASPT-Einheiten ausgedrückt. Das Interval ist das 90th confidence interval (allgemein üblich bei der Arbeit mit biol.Daten). ERGEBNISSE: Beide Klassengrenzen stimmen im Vertrauensbereich überein. WÜNSCHENSWERT: mehr Daten von den Slovaken

The EC GIG Benthic Macroinvertebrate Database contains ~ 750 samples taken at ~ 400 sites comprises national monitoring data from Austria, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia - plus Joint Danube Survey data - plus Slovak STAR sites includes supporting abiotic data on - water chemistry - hydromorphological status - presence of hazardous substances

Proportion of samples/IC type The EC GIG Benthic Macroinvertebrate Database (status 11. January 2006) Type Eco. Catchm. Alt. Geol. R-E1 10 10-1000 500-800 sil R-E2 11+12 100-1000 < 200 mix R-E3 >1000 R-E4 200-500 R-E6 >131000 < 134

Intercalibration Common Multimetric index for the Eastern Continental GIG (ICMi-EC) Results of analysis: Best correlating* metrics on family level (mean r2 ≥ 0.4): - ASPT (and national modifications) - number of families (of selected orders) - Structure Index (T. Ofenböck, unpubl.) - % EPT taxa abundance (2) exclusion of R-E6 data (Danube river) due to weak/non sign. relationships (3) Composition of best correlating* ICMi-EC (mean r2 = 0.66): - ASPT (mean r2 = 0.60) - number of families (mean r2 = 0.40) - Structure Index (mean r2 = 0.49) - % EPT taxa abundance (mean r2 = 0.42) * with national assessment indices

Correlation of dissolved oxygen and BOD5 with ICMi-EC Intercalibration Common Multimetric index for the Eastern Continental GIG (ICMi-EC) Results of analysis: (4) Pressure-impact relationship Correlation of dissolved oxygen and BOD5 with ICMi-EC

Definition of IC type specific reference values Aim: Transformation of ICMi-EC values into Ecological Quality Ratios Purpose: Comparability among IC types and countries Technical Options: sites in pristine state (result of pressure screening) if not available: sites showing similar level of impairment/alteration

Definition of IC type specific reference values Option A: Median of designated reference sites Problems: - scarce availability (status: 11. January 2006) IC type AT RO SK Sum R-E1 - 9 10 19 R-E2 2 R-E3 R-E4 12 14 13 35 small to medium, Carp. mountains large, lowland - true references or best available? Land-use in catchment of AT reference sites (median)   forest agriculture urban R-E4 30 70

Definition of IC type specific reference values Option B: sites showing similar level of impairment/alteration Work currently undertaken: - comparison of abiotic data from “best available” sites delivered by the countries - analysis of TNMN data (chemistry), JDS data (morphology), Roof Report data (impoundments) to identify “Least Impacted River Reaches” at the Danube - relating abiotic data to biological survey data (invertebrates) - testing application of Potamon-Typie-Index at the Danube using JDS samples (together with Franz Schöll from BfG, Koblenz)  possible common metric

Comparison of national class boundaries (status: 11. Jan. 2006) preliminary outcome based on provisional assumptions concerning references H/G – high-good G/M – good-moderate Comparison of national class boundary values by means of ICMi-EC (incl. 95% confidence intervals) Saprobic Index of SK and CZ

Summary EC GIG database provides good basis for intercalibration analyses Common Multimetric Index for Intercalibration (ICMi-EC) represents suitable tool to perform intercalibration according to the WFD requirements preliminary analysis already reveals differences in national class boundary settings  most likely harmonisation will become necessary next steps of the analysis: - ensuring harmonised criteria/thresholds for defining references sites - if no reference sites available: defining “best available” sites showing similar degree of impairment/alteration - testing of Potamon-Typie-Index as possible common metric for the Danube river

Class Boundary Setting/Harmonisation EC GIG countries use AT class boundary as preliminary benchmark Clarify relation of countries’ class boundaries to AT boundaries currently: consideration of results and agreement at next meeting in April Reference Values scarce availability of harmonised reference conditions within DRB for many sites reported it is questionable if real/true reference sites More detailed information on reference AND best available sites needed (currently collected)

Planned Follow-Up Definition of sub-basin and sub-unit report form

Follow Up Training Course ‘Ecological Quality Assessment in Wadable Rivers’ (UNDP GEF/DRP funded)\ Joint sampling of IC/reference sites

THANK YOU FOR THE ATTENTION! Thank you for your attention.