The STAR project: context, objectives and approaches

Furse, M.T.; Hering, Daniel; Moog, Otto; Verdonschot, P.F.M.; Johnson, Richard K.; Brabec, Karel; Gritzalis, Konstantinos; Buffagni, Andrea; Pinto, Paulo; Friberg, Nikolai; Murray‐Bligh, John; Kokeš, Jiří; Alber, Renate; Usseglio‐Polatera, Philippe; Haase, Peter; Sweeting, R. A.; Bis, Barbara; Szoszkiewicz, Krzysztof; Soszka, Hanna; Spriņģe, Gunta; Šporka, Ferdinand; Krno, Iľja

doi:10.1007/978-1-4020-5493-8_2

Cited by 28 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…For macrophyte surveys a methodology developed for the STAR Standardization of River Classification project (Furse et al, 2006) was used because of the lack of standardized national methods. Sampling and sample processing were done according to the STAR protocols (Dawson, 2002).…”

Section: Survey Sites and Macrophyte Samplingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Macrophyte species composition in streams of Latvia under different flow and substrate conditions

Grīnberga¹

2011

Estonian J. Ecol.

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The macrophyte species composition was studied in relation to different flow and substrate conditions in middle-sized streams of Latvia. The frequency of macrophyte species along 131 surveyed sites was determined. Each survey was supplemented by a description of environmental factors (substrate type, flow velocity, shading, stream width, and water depth). On the basis of field observations, five groups of stream stretches with different stream velocity and substrates were distinguished: (1) fast-flowing streams on gravelly substrate, (2) slow-flowing streams on gravelly substrate, (3) fast-flowing streams on sandy substrate, (4) slow-flowing streams on sandy substrate, and (5) slow-flowing streams with soft, silty substrate. The botanical differences between the identified stream types were described. A total of 58 macrophyte taxa were found in the streams. The most common macrophyte species were Nuphar lutea, found in 60% of all sites, followed by Sparganium emersum, S. erectum s.l., Phalaris arundinacea, Alisma plantago-aquatica, and Lemna minor. The number of species varied between 1 and 22 per site, the highest species richness (22) was found in slow-flowing streams with gravelly substrate. Species-poor macrophyte communities were characteristic of fast-flowing streams on sandy substrate. CCA analysis revealed that the development of macrophyte species in the investigated streams was most strongly dependent on the catchment area, altitude, and current velocity gradient. Analyses showed correlations between the number of taxa and stream width and catchment area, as well as the number of taxa and macrophyte cover with shading and altitude (negative correlation). Both the number of taxa and macrophyte cover correlated with substrate.

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Section: Survey Sites and Macrophyte Samplingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Macrophyte species composition in streams of Latvia under different flow and substrate conditions

Grīnberga¹

2011

Estonian J. Ecol.

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“…The normative definitions, contained in Annex V of the WFD, also indicate that different metrics should be combined. Consequently, various combinations of multimetric indices have been compared and analyzed in diverse European projects (Hering et al, 2004;Furse et al, 2006), for their subsequent use in monitoring programs or intercalibration processes (Buffagni et al, 2005). The ICM-Star index, which emerged from the European Star project , was selected as a reference index in the process of intercalibration and comparison between quality indices and class boundaries (CIS WG 2.A Ecological Status (ECOSTAT), 2004).…”

Section: Quality Indices For Mediterranean Riversmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Consequently, several scientific projects have been undertaken to compare and analyze diverse metrics for biologic water-quality assessment, based on the macroinvertebrate community in rivers. These studies have been undertaken at the European level (Hering et al, 2004;Furse et al, 2006) and also at the Spanish level (Prat, 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of macroinvertebrate-based multimetric indices for water quality evaluation in Spanish Mediterranean rivers: an intercalibration approach with the IBMWP index

Munné

Prat

2009

Hydrobiologia

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For the European Parliament and Commission to implement the Water Framework Directive (WFD), the water-quality indices that are currently used in Europe need to be compared and calibrated. This will facilitate the comparative assessment of ecological status throughout the European Union. According to the WFD, biologic indices should respond consistently to human impacts, using multimetric approaches and water-quality classification boundaries adjusted to a common set of normative definitions. The European Commission has started an intercalibration exercise to review biologic indices and harmonize class boundaries. We used data from rivers in Spain to compare the IBMWP (Iberian Biological Monitoring Working Party) index, which is commonly used by water authorities in Spain and by several research centers, with the Intercalibration Common Multimetric Index (ICM-Star), which was used as a standard in the intercalibration exercise. We also used data from Spanish rivers to compare the multimetric indices ICM-7 (based on quantitative data) and ICM-9 (based on qualitative data) with the IBMWP. ICM-7 and ICM-9 were proposed by the Mediterranean Geographical Intercalibration Group (Med-GIG). Additionally, we evaluated two new multimetric indices, developed specifically for macroinvertebrate communities inhabiting Mediterranean river systems. One of these is based on quantitative data (ICM-10), while the other is based on qualitative data (ICM-11a). The results show that the IBMWP index responds well to the stressor gradient present in our data, and correlates well with ICM-Star. Moreover, the IBMWP quality class boundaries were consistent with the intercalibration requirements of the WFD. However, multimetric indices showed a more linear relation with the stressor gradient in our data, and less variation in reference values. In addition, they may provide more statistical power for detecting potential environmental impacts. Multimetric indices produced similar results for quantitative and qualitative data. Thus, ICM-10 (also named IMMi-T) and ICM-11a (also named IMMi-L) indices could be used to meet European Commission requirements for assessing the water quality in Spanish Mediterranean rivers.

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“…Recently, several macroinvertebrate projects for intercalibration of different geographical areas and assessment methods, such as AQEM and STAR, were executed in Europe (Hering et al, 2003;Furse et al, 2006). Consequently, a modern, acceptable sampling technique should (1) be standardized, (2) include a wide variety of taxa at the studied site, and (3) incorporate a measure of abundance.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Macroinvertebrates in Estonian streams: the effects of habitat, season, and sampling effort on some common metrics of biological quality

Timm¹,

Mardi²,

Möls³

2008

Estonian J. Ecol.

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According to the EU Water Framework Directive, benthic macroinvertebrates are considered a biological quality element required for typology and classification of the ecological status of freshwaters. The effects of habitat, season, and sampling effort on three common quality metrics were studied in Estonian streams. More than 900 macroinvertebrate samples from minimally disturbed sites, collected in 1985-2002, were analysed. All metrics were significantly influenced by stream size, bottom substrate, flow velocity, and geographical location. The biological quality was the best 30-50 km from the stream source. The geographical distribution of the values of ASPT (mean sensitivity of a taxon) and DSFI (level of organic pollution) was markedly different from the geographical distribution of the values of NTAXA (taxa richness). All metrics also revealed lower quality for sandy than for stony bottom, and for low than for high flow velocity (except NTAXA). Unlike the other two metrics, ASPT did not depend on sampling season and depended much less on sampling method. Hence it could be recommended as a tool for transforming the biological quality derived from historical non-standard samples into modern terms.

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The STAR project: context, objectives and approaches

Abstract: STAR is a European

Cited by 28 publications

References 55 publications

Macrophyte species composition in streams of Latvia under different flow and substrate conditions

Macrophyte species composition in streams of Latvia under different flow and substrate conditions

Use of macroinvertebrate-based multimetric indices for water quality evaluation in Spanish Mediterranean rivers: an intercalibration approach with the IBMWP index

Macroinvertebrates in Estonian streams: the effects of habitat, season, and sampling effort on some common metrics of biological quality

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