BQE
From REFORM wiki
Biological Quality Elements (BQE)
General description
For the implementation of the Water Framework Directive, the assessment of ecological status of water bodies is based on biological indicators from several groups of organisms known as biological quality elements (BQE). For inland surface waters the BQE's are:
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| Type | Name | Slope (m/km) | Flow velocity (cm/s) | Geology (>50%) | Width (m) | Catchment (km2) |
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| R4 | Permanent slow-flowing headwater on sandy soil | <1 | <50 | Silicious | 0-3 | 0-10 |
| R5 | Slow-flowing middle/lower course on sandy soil | <1 | <50 | Silicious | 8-25 | 100-200 |
| R6 | Slow-flowing rivulet on sandy/clay soil | <1 | <50 | Silicious | 8-25 | 100-200 |
| R7 | Slow-flowing river on sandy/clay soil | <1 | <50 | Silicious | >25 | >200 |
| R8 | Freshwater tidal river on sandy/clay soil | <1 | <50 | Silicious | >25 | >200 |
| R10 | Slow-flowing middle/lower course on calcareous soil | <1 | <50 | Calcareous | 3-8 | 10-100 |
| R12 | Slow-flowing middle/lower course on peaty soil | <1 | <50 | Organic | 3-8 | 10-100 |
| R14 | Fast-flowing middle/lower course on sandy soil | >1 | >50 | Silicious | 3-8 | 10-100 |
| R15 | Fast-flowing rivulet on siliceous soil | >1 | >50 | Silicious | 8-25 | 100-200 |
| R16 | Fast-flowing middle/lower course on sandy or gravel soil | >1 | >50 | Silicious | >25 | >200 |
| R18 | Fast-flowing middle/lower course on calcareous soil | >1 | >50 | Calcareous | 3-8 | 10-100 |
The indicators may be related to the composition, abundance and diversity of species, as well as the presence or absence of some disturbance-sensitive species.
