Development and application of a biological assessment systems Multimetric Assessment of macroinvertebrates and Assessment Software Dr Mario Sommerhäuser and University of Essen Institute of Ecology Department of Hydrobiology

CETEC Curso “Aplicação de Ecomorfologia Fluvial na Validação da Tipologia de Rios” 16-18/06/2010 Multimetric Assessment and Assessment Software Biological Assessment

CETEC Curso “Aplicação de Ecomorfologia Fluvial na Validação da Tipologia de Rios” 16-18/06/2010 Multimetric Assessment and Assessment Software Demands of the WFD within surface water assessment  Type-specific surface water assessment  Biology as the main assessment tool for the ecological status: aquatic quality components makroinvertebrates, fish, macrophytes/phytobenthos, phytoplankton  Comparison with reference conditions  Assessment in five classes (ecological quality classes)  physico-chemical data and hydro-morphological data for completion and validation

CETEC Curso “Aplicação de Ecomorfologia Fluvial na Validação da Tipologia de Rios” 16-18/06/2010 Multimetric Assessment and Assessment Software Main stressors for rivers today (Europe) Organic pollution Eutrophication Hydro- morphology

CETEC Curso “Aplicação de Ecomorfologia Fluvial na Validação da Tipologia de Rios” 16-18/06/2010 Multimetric Assessment and Assessment Software Indicator value of the different biological quality components Organic pollution Eutrophi- cation Acidification Hydro- Morphology/ Migration Long-term reaction short-term reaction Basin Site „Holistic approach of WFD“

CETEC Curso “Aplicação de Ecomorfologia Fluvial na Validação da Tipologia de Rios” 16-18/06/2010 Multimetric Assessment and Assessment Software  Type-specific approach  Assessment in comparison with reference conditions (~ high ecological status)  New and specific sampling methods  Multimetric approaches for the analysis of biological results (i. e. species lists) - combination of different metrics (biocoenotic indicator values/functional groups): e. g. species number, share of certain groups like Stoneflies and others, share of functional feeding groups) - Different reaction againts different stressors - CEN and ISO standards for European biological indices Common features of the new German biological assessment methods for all four aquatic quality components

CETEC Curso “Aplicação de Ecomorfologia Fluvial na Validação da Tipologia de Rios” 16-18/06/2010 Multimetric Assessment and Assessment Software Example for the assessment with biol. quality elements: Macroinvertebrates AQEM / PERLODES system

CETEC Curso “Aplicação de Ecomorfologia Fluvial na Validação da Tipologia de Rios” 16-18/06/2010 Multimetric Assessment and Assessment Software 8 Content General concept and development of the multimetric assessment system (AQEM / PERLODES, Germany) Design and application European River Classification Software System Version 3.0 Interpretation of assessment results Examples of taxa, ecological information, species traits, indicative potential as a basis for multimetric assessment systems Content

CETEC Curso “Aplicação de Ecomorfologia Fluvial na Validação da Tipologia de Rios” 16-18/06/2010 Multimetric Assessment and Assessment Software 9 Forms of impairments (“Stressors”) Nutrient enrichment/ organic pollution Microhabitats Hydromorphology Land use General Concept

CETEC Curso “Aplicação de Ecomorfologia Fluvial na Validação da Tipologia de Rios” 16-18/06/2010 Multimetric Assessment and Assessment Software 10 Ecological Quality Assessment: Multi-metric concept „Ecological Status“ Trophic structure Function Sensitivity Species richness Diversity Resilience Resistence Stagnation Hydromorphology Pollution Poison Acidification Salt Fine sediments Global warming General Concept

CETEC Curso “Aplicação de Ecomorfologia Fluvial na Validação da Tipologia de Rios” 16-18/06/2010 Multimetric Assessment and Assessment Software 11 Taxalist Information on the saprobic status Information on the acidic status Information on other stressors Ecological status Reference status Need for action } Assessment formula Assessment formula Assessment formula Stressor-specific Assessment General Concept

CETEC Curso “Aplicação de Ecomorfologia Fluvial na Validação da Tipologia de Rios” 16-18/06/2010 Multimetric Assessment and Assessment Software 12 Taxalist Information on the saprobic status Information on the acidic status Information on other stressors Ecological status Reference status Need for action } Stressor-specific Assessment Assessment formula Assessment formula Assessment formula Modul organic pollution Modul acidificationModul general degradation General Concept

CETEC Curso “Aplicação de Ecomorfologia Fluvial na Validação da Tipologia de Rios” 16-18/06/2010 Multimetric Assessment and Assessment Software 13 German Standard DIN (2004) Acid quality classes according to Braukmann & Biss (2004) Stream type specific assessment - formulas: Metric 1 Metric 2 Metric 3... Stressor-specific Assessment Taxalist Information on the saprobic status Information on the acidic status Information on other stressors General Concept

CETEC Curso “Aplicação de Ecomorfologia Fluvial na Validação da Tipologia de Rios” 16-18/06/2010 Multimetric Assessment and Assessment Software 14 referencegoodmoderatepoorbad Alpine streams< 1.20to 1.80to 2.55to 3.25to 4.00 Small mountain streams< 1.45to 2.00to 2.65to 3.35to 4.00 Mid-sized mountain streams< 1.60to 2.10to 2.75to 3.35to 4.00 Mid-sized sand bottom streams in the lowlands < 1.90to 2.35to 2.90to 3.45to 4.00 (...) Stream type-specific Saprobic Index Example: Saprobic Index = 1.85 General Concept

CETEC Curso “Aplicação de Ecomorfologia Fluvial na Validação da Tipologia de Rios” 16-18/06/2010 Multimetric Assessment and Assessment Software 15 Acid quality classes according to Braukmann & Biss (2004) Stream type specific assessment - formulas: Metric 1 Metric 2 Metric 3... Stressor-specific Assessment Taxalist Information on the saprobic status Information on the acidic status Information on other stressors German Standard DIN (1992) General Concept

CETEC Curso “Aplicação de Ecomorfologia Fluvial na Validação da Tipologia de Rios” 16-18/06/2010 Multimetric Assessment and Assessment Software 16 Acid quality classes according to Braukmann & Biss (2004) Stream type specific assessment - formulas: Metric 1 Metric 2 Metric 3... Stressor-specific Assessment Taxalist Information on the saprobic status Information on the acidic status Information on other stressors German Standard DIN (1992) General Concept

CETEC Curso “Aplicação de Ecomorfologia Fluvial na Validação da Tipologia de Rios” 16-18/06/2010 Multimetric Assessment and Assessment Software 17 What is a Metric? - Abundance of a mayfly species - Number of mayfly species - Percentage of all mayfly species on the sample - Presence of specific indicator species of the mayflies - Percentage of the filter feeding organisms Multi-metric Index (Hering et al. 2004a, b; Lorenz et al. 2004; Meier et al. 2005) General Concept

CETEC Curso “Aplicação de Ecomorfologia Fluvial na Validação da Tipologia de Rios” 16-18/06/2010 Multimetric Assessment and Assessment Software 18 Selection of parameters, which indicate the effects of degradation Correlation analysis Database 1 Taxalists Database 2 Abiotic site data - land use in the catchment - hydromorphological quality Selection of Metrics Calculation of ca. 80 metrics with each taxalist General Concept

CETEC Curso “Aplicação de Ecomorfologia Fluvial na Validação da Tipologia de Rios” 16-18/06/2010 Multimetric Assessment and Assessment Software 19 Correlation Analysis Metric results & Land use parameters Metric results & hydromorphological parameters General Concept

CETEC Curso “Aplicação de Ecomorfologia Fluvial na Validação da Tipologia de Rios” 16-18/06/2010 Multimetric Assessment and Assessment Software 20 Mid-sized sand bottom streams in the lowlands Residential area [%] Number of Trichoptera General Concept

CETEC Curso “Aplicação de Ecomorfologia Fluvial na Validação da Tipologia de Rios” 16-18/06/2010 Multimetric Assessment and Assessment Software 21 Mid-sized sand bottom streams in the lowlands Residential area [%] German Fauna Index General Concept

CETEC Curso “Aplicação de Ecomorfologia Fluvial na Validação da Tipologia de Rios” 16-18/06/2010 Multimetric Assessment and Assessment Software 22 Calculation of ca. 80 metrics with every taxalist Selection of parameters, which indicate the effects of degradation Correlation analysis Selection of Candidate metrics Selection of Metrics General Concept

CETEC Curso “Aplicação de Ecomorfologia Fluvial na Validação da Tipologia de Rios” 16-18/06/2010 Multimetric Assessment and Assessment Software 23 High and significant correlation of a metric with hydromorphological or land use parameters Candidate metrics for each stream type cover all metric groups according to the WFD taxonomic composition and abundance richness/diversity sensitive/tolerant taxa functional Criteria for the selection of the metrics General Concept

CETEC Curso “Aplicação de Ecomorfologia Fluvial na Validação da Tipologia de Rios” 16-18/06/2010 Multimetric Assessment and Assessment Software 24 Situation in the catchment Presence of specialists for rare or degraded habitats Functional groups Sensitivity/tolerance Richness/diversity Composition Metric type Metarhithral [%] German Fauna Index mid-sized mountain streams No. of EPTCBO EPT [%] Metric % of sensitive taxa and habitats Example: Mid-sized mountain streams General Concept Information Diversity of fauna and habitats

ASTERICS Design and application of the AQEM/STAR European River Classification System v3.0

CETEC Curso “Aplicação de Ecomorfologia Fluvial na Validação da Tipologia de Rios” 16-18/06/2010 Multimetric Assessment and Assessment Software 26 The current version of the software to calculate the ecological status of streams and rivers is downloadable for free! Options: -Germany official system (PERLODES) -Germany original (AQEM system) -Several European countries Homepage: - or ASTERICS v.3.0

CETEC Curso “Aplicação de Ecomorfologia Fluvial na Validação da Tipologia de Rios” 16-18/06/2010 Multimetric Assessment and Assessment Software 27 The assessment-software runs under Windows 98, NT, 2000 and XP. The data import is normally carried out via MS Excel. The import table must follow certain rules on layout and format. The assessment-software calculates the ecological quality status of each imported taxalist. The assessment-software calculates about 300 additional metrics for each imported taxalist. Note: Yet, no interpretation of the results or recommendations for improvement of the quality status are given. Overview ASTERICS v.3.0

CETEC Curso “Aplicação de Ecomorfologia Fluvial na Validação da Tipologia de Rios” 16-18/06/2010 Multimetric Assessment and Assessment Software 28 -Data import by Excel- or text-files (ASCII-Format); respect correct format -Main component of the data import: Key code (encoding every taxon definitely by numbers and/or letters) Data sources Background for encoding -Taxon names can have different spellings. -Taxon names are not enduring – they change often in time according to improvements in taxonomy. Thus, taxa could have different names in different databases (synonyms). -A key code is composed of identification numbers, which are assigned to every taxon (definite identification, independent of spelling or synonymy). -Codes could be made of numbers, letters or combinations of those. ASTERICS v.3.0

CETEC Curso “Aplicação de Ecomorfologia Fluvial na Validação da Tipologia de Rios” 16-18/06/2010 Multimetric Assessment and Assessment Software 29 (1) Import: Import of an Excel-file or ASCII-file (2) Settings: choice of key code (3) Settings: choice of stream type and stressor Note: The menues 2 and 3 appear gradually after pressing the “Import” button. Application of the Assessment Software (in four steps) ASTERICS v.3.0

CETEC Curso “Aplicação de Ecomorfologia Fluvial na Validação da Tipologia de Rios” 16-18/06/2010 Multimetric Assessment and Assessment Software 30 (1) Import: Import of an Excel file or ASCII file Application of the Assessment Software (4 steps) (2) Settings: choice of key code (3) Settings: choice of stream type and stressor (4) Start of calculation ASTERICS v.3.0

CETEC Curso “Aplicação de Ecomorfologia Fluvial na Validação da Tipologia de Rios” 16-18/06/2010 Multimetric Assessment and Assessment Software 31 TaxalistMetrics ASTERICS v.3.0

CETEC Curso “Aplicação de Ecomorfologia Fluvial na Validação da Tipologia de Rios” 16-18/06/2010 Multimetric Assessment and Assessment Software 32 Results (A)Assessment: Display of scores of the Ecological Quality Class together with the Core Metrics and underlying results. ASTERICS v.3.0

CETEC Curso “Aplicação de Ecomorfologia Fluvial na Validação da Tipologia de Rios” 16-18/06/2010 Multimetric Assessment and Assessment Software 33 -Level 2: Quality classes of the single moduls -Level 1: Ecological quality class (integrated assessment) -Level 3: Results of the core metrics -Level 4: Results of all metrics ASTERICS v.3.0

CETEC Curso “Aplicação de Ecomorfologia Fluvial na Validação da Tipologia de Rios” 16-18/06/2010 Multimetric Assessment and Assessment Software 34 Export-Function The software has the possibility to export all metric results to Excel ASTERICS v.3.0

Interpretation of assessment results Examples of taxa, ecological information, species traits and the indicative potential as a basis for multimetric assessment systems and the interpretation of results

CETEC Curso “Aplicação de Ecomorfologia Fluvial na Validação da Tipologia de Rios” 16-18/06/2010 Multimetric Assessment and Assessment Software 36 Mid-sized sand-bottom lowland streams Lachte NI Interpretation of Assessment Results

CETEC Curso “Aplicação de Ecomorfologia Fluvial na Validação da Tipologia de Rios” 16-18/06/2010 Multimetric Assessment and Assessment Software 37 Scores Lachte Interpretation of Assessment Results

CETEC Curso “Aplicação de Ecomorfologia Fluvial na Validação da Tipologia de Rios” 16-18/06/2010 Multimetric Assessment and Assessment Software EPT [%] (abundance classes) 2.32Diversity (Shannon-Wiener-Index) 1.15Fauna Index Typ 15/ German Saprobic Index 35Number of Taxa 561.6Abundance [Ind./m²] Value Metric Results Lachte Interpretation of Assessment Results

CETEC Curso “Aplicação de Ecomorfologia Fluvial na Validação da Tipologia de Rios” 16-18/06/2010 Multimetric Assessment and Assessment Software 39 Taxalist Lachte Interpretation of Assessment Results

CETEC Curso “Aplicação de Ecomorfologia Fluvial na Validação da Tipologia de Rios” 16-18/06/2010 Multimetric Assessment and Assessment Software 40 Stever near Füchtelner Mühle (NRW) Interpretation of Assessment Results

CETEC Curso “Aplicação de Ecomorfologia Fluvial na Validação da Tipologia de Rios” 16-18/06/2010 Multimetric Assessment and Assessment Software 41 Level 1:Ecological quality class Level 2:Results of the different modules - Saprobic index - General degradation good SI = 2.29 Score = 0.23 poor Thus, the reason for the poor status is the general/hydro- morphological degradation. To rise the ecological status the hydromorphology of the site has to be improved. Interpretation of Assessment Results

CETEC Curso “Aplicação de Ecomorfologia Fluvial na Validação da Tipologia de Rios” 16-18/06/2010 Multimetric Assessment and Assessment Software 42 German Fauna Index 0,09 # Trichoptera 0,13 EPT-Taxa [%] 0,25 Litoral [%] 0,24 Pelal [%] 0,87 Level 3: Scores of the core metrics bad poor reference rare and type specific species are missing poor habitat diversity, e.g. organic substrates are absent (woody debris, CPOM) Summary: The single results imply that the site is hydromorphologically extemely impaired. The effects on the invertebrate community are obvious (Fauna Index, number of Trichoptera taxa, % Littoral preferences). Disturbance of natural flow regime (stagnant situations, absence of shading and high amounts of macrophytes) Low species-richness and shifted abundances Interpretation of Assessment Results

CETEC Curso “Aplicação de Ecomorfologia Fluvial na Validação da Tipologia de Rios” 16-18/06/2010 Multimetric Assessment and Assessment Software 43 Taxalist Stever Interpretation of Assessment Results

CETEC Curso “Aplicação de Ecomorfologia Fluvial na Validação da Tipologia de Rios” 16-18/06/2010 Multimetric Assessment and Assessment Software 44 Ebene 3: Ergebnisse der Core Metrics Level 3: Scores of the core metrics bad poor reference German Fauna Index 0,09 # Trichoptera 0,13 EPT-Taxa [%] 0,25 Litoral [%] 0,24 Pelal [%] 0,87 Interpretation of Assessment Results

CETEC Curso “Aplicação de Ecomorfologia Fluvial na Validação da Tipologia de Rios” 16-18/06/2010 Multimetric Assessment and Assessment Software 25 cm Netz- maschen- weite: 0,5 mm Teilprobe Sand (55 % = 11 Teilproben) Steine (<5% = 0 Teilproben) Kies (25 % = 5 Teilproben) Fallaub (15 % = 3 Teilproben) Holz(5 % = 1 Teilprobe) Standardized sampling method: Multi-Habitat-Sampling (AQEM method = EUROPEAN „CEN“ Standard since 2010)

CETEC Curso “Aplicação de Ecomorfologia Fluvial na Validação da Tipologia de Rios” 16-18/06/2010 Multimetric Assessment and Assessment Software Comparison with operational taxa list! Standardized treatment of the samples (sieving and sub-sampling

Autecology on species level Ecological indicators Basis for assessment

CETEC Curso “Aplicação de Ecomorfologia Fluvial na Validação da Tipologia de Rios” 16-18/06/2010 Multimetric Assessment and Assessment Software (1) A água não é um produto comercial como outro qualquer, mas um património que deve ser protegido, defendido e tratado como tal.

CETEC Curso “Aplicação de Ecomorfologia Fluvial na Validação da Tipologia de Rios” 16-18/06/2010 Multimetric Assessment and Assessment Software Further information about European Water Framework Directive