Difference between revisions of "BQE"

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(Biological Quality Elements (BQE))
 
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=Biological Quality Elements (BQE)=  
 
=Biological Quality Elements (BQE)=  
 
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The ecological status of a river can be assessed by evaluating indicators for the composition, abundance, species diversity or absence of various groups of organisms known as “biological quality elements”. Four biological quality elements are used for rivers: algae (phytobenthos), macrophytes, macroinvertebrates and fish.
==General description==
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<p>For the implementation of the [http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/water-framework/index_en.html 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).  These indicators may be related to the composition, abundance and diversity of species, as well as the presence or absence of some disturbance-sensitive species. </p>
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<p>For inland surface waters the BQE's are:</p>
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| [[Image:BQE_phytoplankton.jpg|200px]] || [[Image:BQE_macrophytes.jpg|200px]] || [[Image:BQE_benthic_invertebrates.jpg|200px]] || [[Image:BQE_fish.jpg|200px]]  
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| [[Image:BQE_phytoplankton.jpg|180px]] <ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phytoplankton Wikipedia.  Phytoplankton]</ref>|| [[Image:BQE_macrophytes.jpg|180px]] <ref>[http://www.wiser.eu/ WISER Project EU]</ref>|| [[Image:BQE_benthic_invertebrates.jpg|180px]] <ref>[http://www.internetstones.com/abernethy-pearl-little-willie-freshwater-scottish-margaritifera.html Internet Stones.  Pearl Mussels, ''Margaritifera Margaritifera'']</ref>|| [[Image:BQE_fish.jpg|180px]] <br><br>
 
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Using [[biological quality elements as indicators of hydromorphological degradation]] turns out to remain difficult. Improvements might be possible when using trait-based metrics [[Trait-based metrics]] instead of metrics based on species identity. [[Shortcomings in standard monitoring|Monitoring needs to be improved too]]. Nonetheless, [[Why aren’t relationships stronger?|unclear relationships ]] between hydromorphological degradation and biota seem inevitable. Therefore REFORM recommends, with the current level of knowledge, using the hydromorphological method directly for ecological class assessment, circumventing the use of biological indicators.
  
 
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Further reading: REFORM deliverables [[media:3.1 Impacts of HyMo degradation on ecology 0.pdf|D3.1]], [[media:3.2_Biological_responses_to_degraded_HyMo_and_multiple_stress.pdf|D3.2]], [[media:3.3_Evaluation_of_candidate_hydromorphology_indicators.pdf|D3.3]] and [[media:3.4 Guidance to detect impact of HyMo degradation on riparian ecosystems.pdf|D3.4]].
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
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Images taken from:
 
<references/>
 
<references/>
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phytoplankton Wikipedia.  Phytoplankton]
 
*[http://www.wiser.eu/background/macrophytes/ WISER Project EU. Macrophytes and phytobenthos]
 
*[http://www.internetstones.com/abernethy-pearl-little-willie-freshwater-scottish-margaritifera.html Internet Stones.  Pearl Mussels, ''Margaritifera Margaritifera'']
 

Latest revision as of 11:49, 3 January 2019

Biological Quality Elements (BQE)

The ecological status of a river can be assessed by evaluating indicators for the composition, abundance, species diversity or absence of various groups of organisms known as “biological quality elements”. Four biological quality elements are used for rivers: algae (phytobenthos), macrophytes, macroinvertebrates and fish.

Phytoplankton Macrophytes and phytobenthos Benthic invertebrates Fish
BQE phytoplankton.jpg [1] BQE macrophytes.jpg [2] BQE benthic invertebrates.jpg [3] BQE fish.jpg


Using biological quality elements as indicators of hydromorphological degradation turns out to remain difficult. Improvements might be possible when using trait-based metrics Trait-based metrics instead of metrics based on species identity. Monitoring needs to be improved too. Nonetheless, unclear relationships between hydromorphological degradation and biota seem inevitable. Therefore REFORM recommends, with the current level of knowledge, using the hydromorphological method directly for ecological class assessment, circumventing the use of biological indicators.

Further reading: REFORM deliverables D3.1, D3.2, D3.3 and D3.4.

References

Images taken from:

  1. Wikipedia. Phytoplankton
  2. WISER Project EU
  3. Internet Stones. Pearl Mussels, Margaritifera Margaritifera