Defining soft-bottom Ecological Status and in situ reference conditions using benthic foraminifera

Pictures from working in the field. Photos: V. Bouchet

Pictures from working in the field. Photos: V. Bouchet

About the project

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 research 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.

Objectives

Develop paleoecology-based tools for reconstructing soft-bottom ecologic status, including reference conditions in coastal waters.

Background

The work represents research from several research projects, e.g., the compleded project; Paleoecological reconstructions of marine soft-bottom Ecological Status and in situ reference conditions (PES) and various funding bodies.

Links

The EU Water Framework Directive (WFD Guidance Documents).

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

Published May 23, 2016 2:07 PM - Last modified Jan. 17, 2023 1:28 PM

Contact

Elisabeth Alve, Professor

Participants

Detailed list of participants