title: Redundancy in the ecological assessment of lakes: Are phytoplankton, macrophytes and phytobenthos all necessary?
abstract: Although the Water Framework Directive specifies that macrophytes and phytobenthos should be used for the ecological assessment of lakes and rivers, practice varies widely throughout the EU. Most countries have separate methods for macrophytes and phytobenthos in rivers; however, the situation is very different for lakes. Here, 16 countries do not have dedicated phytobenthos methods, some include filamentous algae within macrophyte survey methods whilst others use diatoms as proxies for phytobenthos. The most widely-cited justification for not having a dedicated phytobenthos method is redundancy, i.e. that macrophyte and phytoplankton assessments alone are sufficient to detect nutrient impacts. Evidence from those European Union Member States that have dedicated phytobenthos methods supports this for high level overviews of lake condition and classification; however, there are a number of situations where phytobenthos may contribute valuable information for the management of lakes.
authors.affiliation: Bowburn Consultancy, 11 Monteigne Drive, Bowburn, Durham, UK.
authors.forename: Martyn G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstraße 5, 45141 Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Birk
authors.affiliation: Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK.
authors.forename: Nigel J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Willby
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO), Kliniekstraat 25, 1070 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Denys
authors.affiliation: Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, PO Box 7050, SE 75007 Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Stina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Drakare
authors.affiliation: Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, PO Box 7050, SE 75007 Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kahlert
authors.affiliation: Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE), Paavo Havaksentie 3, 90570 Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Satu Maaria
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Karjalainen
authors.affiliation: CNR Institute of Ecosystem Study, Largo Tonolli 50, 28922 Verbania Pallanza, Italy.
authors.forename: Aldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marchetto
authors.affiliation: Environment Agency, Station Road, Haddiscoe, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk NR31 9JA, UK.
authors.forename: Jo-Anne
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Pitt
authors.affiliation: University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Biology, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Gorazd
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Urbanič
authors.affiliation: European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Institute for Environment and Sustainability, via E. Fermi 2749, 21027 Ispra, Italy. Electronic address: sandra.poikane@jrc.ec.europa.eu.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Poikane
mesh_terms: D017377:Diatoms / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D005062:European Union; D005068:Eutrophication; D060106:Lakes / Q000032:analysis*; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010839:Phytoplankton / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012624:Seaweed / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D060753:Water Quality
keywords: Ecological assessment; Europe; Lakes; Phytobenthos; Water Framework Directive