CORDIS fornisce collegamenti ai risultati finali pubblici e alle pubblicazioni dei progetti ORIZZONTE.
I link ai risultati e alle pubblicazioni dei progetti del 7° PQ, così come i link ad alcuni tipi di risultati specifici come dataset e software, sono recuperati dinamicamente da .OpenAIRE .
Risultati finali
A suite of generic tools for assessing the functional quality of rivers was developed; tested and validated. These tools; called in situ bioassays; are placed within the river and deliver a measure of processing rate. These tools consist of different aquatic species that are housed within cages and exposed to the local environment for variable time periods. They will support the objectives of the European Water Framework Directive; and complement existing structural ecological measures of river quality and monitoring.
Bioassay tools for the in situ assessment of river ecosystem function were produced; tested and validated. Validation was performed using appropriate models; developed in the project; which allow levels of functional impairment to be interpreted in terms of long term effects on individuals. Additionally; validation was also carried in the field; under different conditions and ecoregions. As a result; SOPs for the developed tools were produced. Mathematical models that allow the validation of the bioassays were also produced. As a major component of the Ecological Quality Manual an on-line database was developed and produced; allowing further users to input all relevant information needed to assess a freshwater ecosystem and to selectively extract and export all collected data for further analysis and manipulation with appropriate statistical packages.
Despite the existence of wide variability in response of the bioassays; results were consistent within deployments and across sites clear patterns of impairment of ecosystem function were observed. Some of the bioassays employed proved to discriminate between reference and contaminated sites; or even between different eco-regions; particularly the bioassays assessing the following functional groups: column grazer (i.e. Daphnia bioassays); shredder (i.e. amphipod bioassays) and; although less evident due to the fact that this type of bioassays was not used in all cases; to the benthic grazer (i.e. Chironomus bioassays). The gradient associated with the bioassays response follows the gradients of the BMWP/BMWP and ASPT/ASPT scores. Although requiring technical training bioassays do not require taxonomic expertise; such as the one required using BMWP/BMWP and ASPT/ASPT scores. Moreover; bioassays can and should be conducted with native species maintained in the laboratory or collected from field sites known to be clean; thus; increasing the ecological relevance of the bioassays. This is a major advantage for the potential future implementation of the developed tools to assess the ecological status of freshwaters.
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