HeLM: a macrophyte-based method for monitoring and assessment of Greek lakes
Author
Zervas, D.
Tsiripidis, I.
Spatial coverage
Ελλάδα
Publication Date
2018
Abstract
The Water Framework Directive (WFD) requires Member States to develop appropriate assessment methods for the classification of the ecological status of their surface waters. Mediterranean region has lagged behind in this task, so we propose here the first developed method for Greek lakes, Hellenic Lake Macrophyte (HeLM) assessment method. This method is based on two metrics, a modified trophic index and maximum colonization depth Cmax that quantify the
degree of changes in lake macrophytic vegetation, as a response to eutrophication and general degradation pressures. The method was developed on the basis of a data set sampled from 272 monitoring transects in 16 Greek lakes. Sites from three lakes were selected as potential reference sites by using a screening process. Ecological quality ratios were calculated for each metric and for each lake, and ecological status class boundaries were defined. For the evaluation of effectiveness of the method, the correlations between individual metrics and final HeLM values and common pressure indicators, such as total phosphorus, chlorophyll a and Secchi depth, were tested and found highly significant and
relatively strong. In addition, the ability of HeLM values and its individual metrics to distinguish between different macrophytic communities’ structure was checked using aquatic plant life-forms and found satisfactory. The HeLM method gave a reliable assessment of the macrophytic vegetation’s condition in Greek lakes and may constitute a useful tool for the classification of ecological status of other Mediterranean lakes.
Description
Zervas, D., Tsiaoussi, V. & Tsiripidis, I. HeLM: a macrophyte-based method for monitoring and assessment of Greek lakes. Environ Monit Assess 190, 326 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-018-6708-1
Project
Λειτουργία εθνικού δικτύου παρακολούθησης των υδάτων των λιμνών της Ελλάδας (Οδηγία 2000/60/ΕΚ)
Type
Scientific journal article
Subject(s)
Μακρόφυτα
Υγρότοποι
Λίμνες
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