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:
 |
 |
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Phytoplankton | Macrophytes and phytobenthos |
Benthic invertebrates || Fish |
| |
|
|
|
| R4 | Permanent slow-flowing headwater on sandy soil | <1 | <50 |
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.
