Addressing a gap in the Water Framework Directive implementation: Rocky shores assessment based on benthic macroinvertebrates

Vinagre, PA; Pais-Costa, AJ; Hawkins, SJ; Borja, A; Marques, JC; Neto, JM. 2017 Addressing a gap in the Water Framework Directive implementation: Rocky shores assessment based on benthic macroinvertebrates. Ecological Indicators, 78. 489-501. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2017.03.044

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Abstract/Summary

A gap in the European Water Framework Directive (WFD) is addressed, aiming for the development of an ecological quality status assessment tool based solely on the Biological Quality Element benthic macroinvertebrates from intertidal rocky shores. The proposed Rocky shore Macroinvertebrates Assessment Tool (RMAT) was tested and validated along disturbance gradients (organic enrichment). During the whole process, the response of widely used metrics (e.g. Hurlbert index, Shannon-Wiener index, AZTI’s Marine Biotic Index; Bentix biotic index) and models (i.e., metrics combined) was compared to results provided by the Marine Macroalgae Assessment Tool to the same sampling sites. The RMAT is a multimetric index compliant with the WFD based on the benthic macroinvertebrates community, combining ‘abundance’ (Hurlbert index) and ‘taxonomic composition’ (Bentix index using density and biomass data) metrics. It performed well along anthropogenic disturbance gradients, showing ecological quality increasing from close to far away from the disturbance. The RMAT is a promising tool for rocky shore ecological assessment in the scope of the WFD or other monitoring activities worldwide.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Divisions:	Marine Biological Association of the UK > Ecosystems and Environmental Change > Marine Biodiversity and Climate Change
Depositing User:	Barbara Bultmann
Date made live:	02 Feb 2018 11:42
Last Modified:	25 Apr 2020 09:59
URI:	https://plymsea.ac.uk/id/eprint/7800

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