title: Quality Index of Subtidal Macroalgae (QISubMac): A suitable tool for ecological quality status assessment under the scope of the European Water Framework Directive.
abstract: Despite their representativeness and importance in coastal waters, subtidal rocky bottom habitats have been under-studied. This has resulted in a lack of available indicators for subtidal hard substrate communities. However, a few indicators using subtidal macroalgae have been developed in recent years for the purpose of being implemented into the Water Framework Directive (WFD). Accordingly, a quality index of subtidal macroalgae has been defined as a French assessment tool for subtidal rocky bottom habitats in coastal waters. This approach is based on 14 metrics that consider the depth penetration, composition (sensitive, characteristic and opportunistic) and biodiversity of macroalgae assemblages and complies with WFD requirements. Three ecoregions have been defined to fit with the geographical distribution of macroalgae along the French coastline. As a test, QISubMac was used to assess the water quality of 20 water bodies. The results show that QISubMac may discriminate among different quality classes of water bodies.
authors.affiliation: Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Station Marine, BP 225, 29182 Concarneau cedex, France. Electronic address: alegal@mnhn.fr.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Le Gal
authors.affiliation: Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Station Marine, BP 225, 29182 Concarneau cedex, France. Electronic address: derrien@mnhn.fr.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Derrien-Courtel
mesh_terms: D004463:Ecology; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000379:methods*; D005062:European Union; D033161:Government Regulation; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry*; D012624:Seaweed / Q000254:growth & development*; D014876:Water Pollution / Q000032:analysis*; D060753:Water Quality
keywords: Ecological quality status; Indicators; QISubMac; Rocky bottom; Subtidal macroalgae; Water Framework Directive