Title: Development of an Estuarine Classification Scheme for the Water Framework Directive
Author: S A Coates
Author: S R Colclough
Author: M Robson
Author: T D Harrison
Author: Environment Agency
Document Type: Monograph
Annotation: Environment Agency Project ID:EAPRJOUT_1430, Representation ID: 486, Object ID: 2585
Abstract:
A key objective of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) is to protect, enhance, and restore all bodies of surface water, including ‘Transitional Waters’ (estuaries), with the aim of achieving good surface water status by 2015. The WFD will also introduce for the first time an international commitment to assess the ecological status of transitional waters, for which fish communities are a key biological monitoring component. Within Transitional Waters five biological quality elements are to be assessed. These are phytoplankton, macro-algae, angiosperms, benthic invertebrates & fish (European Council Directive, 2000). The fish quality element is to be assessed by taking account of the composition and abundance of the fish fauna. This report describes the first two stages of the three Phase development of the Estuarine Fish Community Index (EFCI) and forms part of a study to develop a fish-based estuarine classification scheme in support of the WFD. The EFCI described here is an ecologically based method that combines both structural and functional attributes of estuarine fish communities and integrates these to provide both a robust and sensitive method for assessing the ecological condition of estuarine systems. It is also conceptually simple, the metrics are easily measured and the overall index is straightforward and rapid to calculate. The EFCI is also an effective communication tool for converting ecological information into an easily understood format for managers, policy makers, and the general public as a whole.
Publisher: Environment Agency
Subject Keywords: Classification; Estuaries; Fishes; Water quality; Water Framework Directive; Brackishwater fishes; Brackishwater environment; Monitoring
Geographic Keywords: European estuaries
Extent: 62
Permalink: http://www.environmentdata.org/archive/ealit:4685
Total file downloads: 270
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