title: Approaches for integrated assessment of ecological and eutrophication status of surface waters in Nordic Countries.
abstract: We review approaches and tools currently used in Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden) for integrated assessment of 'ecological status' sensu the EU Water Framework Directive as well as assessment of 'eutrophication status' in coastal and marine waters. Integration principles for combining indicators within biological quality elements (BQEs) and combining BQEs into a final-integrated assessment are discussed. Specific focus has been put on combining different types of information into indices, since several methods are currently employed. As a consequence of the variety of methods used, comparisons across both BQEs and water categories (river, lakes and coastal waters) can be difficult. Based on our analyses, we conclude that some principles and methods for integration can be critical and that a harmonised approach should be developed. Further, we conclude that the integration principles applied within BQEs are critical and in need of harmonisation if we want a better understanding of potential transition in ecological status between surface water types, e.g. when riverine water enters a downstream lake or coastal water body.
authors.affiliation: NIVA Denmark Water Research, Ørestads Boulevard 73, 2300, Copenhagen S, Denmark. jha@niva-danmark.dk.
authors.forename: Jesper H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.affiliation: Freshwater Centre, Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE), Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Jukka
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Aroviita
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000, Roskilde, Denmark.
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Carstensen
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Gaustadsalleen 21, 0349, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Nikolai
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Friberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7050, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Richard K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Marine Research Center, Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE), Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Pirkko
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kauppila
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Environmental Science - Tjärnö, University of Gothenburg, 452 96, Strömstad, Sweden.
authors.forename: Mats
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lindegarth
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000, Roskilde, Denmark.
authors.forename: Ciarán
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, 41319, Göteborg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Norling
mesh_terms: D059001:Aquatic Organisms / Q000254:growth & development*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005068:Eutrophication; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000737:chemistry*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012537:Scandinavian and Nordic Countries; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry*; D018511:Systems Integration; D060753:Water Quality
keywords: Assessment; Biological quality elements; Coastal eutrophication; Ecological status; Integration; Water Framework Directive