The MEDiterranean Prediction And Classification System (MEDPACS): an implementation of the RIVPACS/AUSRIVAS predictive approach for assessing Mediterranean aquatic macroinvertebrate communities

Abstract

In Spain, a national project known as GUADALMED, focusing on Mediterranean streams, has been carried out from 1998 to 2005 to implement the European water framework directive (WFD) requirements. One of the main objectives of the second phase of the project (2002)(2003)(2004)(2005) was to develop a predictive system for the Spanish Mediterranean aquatic macroinvertebrate communities. A combined-season (spring, summer, and autumn) predictive model was developed by using the latest improvements on the selection of best predictor variables. Overall model performance measures were used to select the best discriminant function (DF) models, and also to evaluate their biases and precision. The final predictive model was based on the best five DF models. Each one of these models involved eight environmental variables. Final observed (O), expected (E), and O/E values for the number of macroinvertebrate families (NFAM) and two biotic indices (IBMWP and IASPT) were calculated by averaging their values, previously weighted by the quality of each DF model. Regression analyses among the final O and E values for the calibration dataset showed a high proximity to the ideal theoretical model, where the final E values explained 73-84% of the variation present in the macroinvertebrate communities of the Handling editor: Richard H. NorrisSpanish Mediterranean watercourses. The ANOVA performed among the reference (calibration and validation) and test datasets showed clear differences for the O/E values. Finally, the assessments carried out by the predictive model were sensitive to anthropogenic pressure present in the study area and allowed the definition of five ecological status classes according to the WFD requirements.

Macroinvertebrates as Indicators of Water Quality in Running Waters: 10 Years of Research in Rivers with Different Degrees of Anthropogenic Impacts

“…On the contrary, the lowest value was obtained in the Lagares River, which is highly polluted and affected by anthropogenic pressure. The importance of using this index was also pointed out by other studies conducted in the Iberian Peninsula (Alba-Tercedor et al, 2002;Bonada et al, 2006a;Poquet et al, 2009). …”

Predictive Models for Freshwater Biological Assessment: Statistical Approaches, Biological Elements and the Iberian Peninsula Experience: A Review

“…This procedure enables the retention of a number of best models and calculates model performance measurements as well as statistics for calibration and validation datasets. This approach has been used in recently developed predictive models (MYRKÄ et al, 2008;POQUET et al, 2009).…”

“…Moreover, the statistical power needed to detect overall biological impacts, based on the O/E for the number of taxa, is similar for P c up to 70% (CLARKE and MURPHY, 2006). Several posterior predictive models also utilize this approach (e.g., FEIO et al, 2009;POQUET et al, 2009).…”

“…In Spain, the MEDiterranean Prediction And Classification System (MEDPACS, POQUET et al, 2009) is the first predictive model developed for typical Mediterranean cli-matic areas (sensu KÖPPEN, 1923). This predictive model is based on the RIVPACS/AUS-RIVAS approach.…”

Development and preliminary application of a method to assess river ecological status in the Hai River Basin, north China

“…The IBI integrates multiparameters, including fish species, abundance, and reproduction, to indicate stream health condition. A multitude of assessment methods emerged following the IBI, such as RIVPACS (River Invertebrate Prediction and Classification System) in the UK (Wright, 1995), AUSRIVAS (Australian River Assessment System) in Australia (Coysh et al, 2000), MEDPACS (The MEDiterranean Prediction And Classification System) for the Mediterranean (Poquet et al, 2009), EFI (European Fish Index) and AQEM (Development and Testing of an Integrated Assessment System for the Ecological Quality of Streams and Rivers throughout Europe using Benthic Macroinvertebrates) in the European Union (Breine et al, 2005;Hering et al, 2004). In addition, through continuous improvement, Chutter established SASS (South African Scoring System), a simple and rapid index method applied in South Africa (Dickens and Graham, 2002).…”