Paleoecological reconstructions of marine soft-bottom Ecological Status and in situ reference conditions (PES) (completed)

Paleoecological reconstructions of marine soft-bottom Ecological Status and in situ reference conditions: calibrating benthic foraminifera with macrofauna and hydrographic data.

Pictures from field work in the project. Photo: Project own

Pictures from field work in the project. Photo: Project own

Objectives

In this project we aim to develop paleoecology-based tools for reconstructing soft-bottom ecologic status, including reference conditions in coastal waters.

Background

The European Water Framework Directive (WFD) requires that assessments of aquatic ecological status are based on comparison with reference (background) conditions. Soft-bottom invertebrates represent one of the biological quality elements on which the assessments will be based. To date, no monitoring programs include methods which can adequately define biological reference conditions in soft-bottom coastal and transitional waters.

The project aims to assess new, cost-efficient hind-casting tools for determining in situ ecologic status dating back over long time spans (e.g., decades to centuries) in coastal, fjordic and transitional soft-bottom habitats.

Financing

The project received funding from the Norwegian Research Council in an earlier stage of the project period (2008-2011).

Cooperation

See full list over cooperating partners.

Links

The EU Water Framework Directive (WFD Guidance Documents).

N° 5 - Transitional and Coastal Waters - Typology, Reference Conditions and Classification Systems (PDF)

 

Published Nov. 23, 2010 3:05 PM - Last modified Jan. 17, 2023 1:23 PM