The imperative need for nationally coordinated bioassessment of rivers and streams
Susan J. Nichols A L , Leon A. Barmuta B , Bruce C. Chessman C , Peter E. Davies D , Fiona J. Dyer A , Evan T. Harrison C , Charles P. Hawkins E , Iwan Jones F , Ben J. Kefford C , Simon Linke G , Richard Marchant H , Leon Metzeling I , Katie Moon C , Ralph Ogden J , Michael Peat A , Trefor B. Reynoldson K and Ross M. Thompson CA Institute for Applied Ecology and MDBfutures Collaborative Research Network, University of Canberra, University Drive, Bruce, ACT 2617, Australia.
B Freshwater Ecology Group, School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 55, Hobart, Tas. 7001, Australia.
C Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, University Drive, Bruce, ACT 2617, Australia.
D Centre for Environment and School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Sandy Bay Campus, Old Medical Sciences Building, Tas. 7005, Australia.
E Department of Watershed Sciences, Western Center for Monitoring and Assessment of Freshwater Ecosystems, and the Ecology Center, Utah State University, 5210 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322-5210, USA.
F School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, UK.
G Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Nathan Campus, 170 Kessels Road, Nathan, Qld 4111, Australia.
H Museum Victoria, 11 Nicholson Street, Carlton, Vic. 3053, Australia.
I Environment Protection Authority, Ernest Jones Drive, Macleod, Vic. 3085, Australia.
J eWater, University Drive, Bruce, ACT 2617, Australia.
K Acadia University, 15 University Avenue, Wolfville, NS, B4P 2R6, Canada.
L Corresponding author. Email: sue.nichols@canberra.edu.au
Marine and Freshwater Research 68(4) 599-613 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF15329
Submitted: 26 April 2015 Accepted: 28 February 2016 Published: 16 June 2016
Abstract
Declining water quality and ecological condition is a typical trend for rivers and streams worldwide as human demands for water resources increase. Managing these natural resources sustainably is a key responsibility of governments. Effective water management policies require information derived from long-term monitoring and evaluation. Biological monitoring and assessment are critical for management because bioassessment integrates the biological, physical and chemical features of a waterbody. Investment in nationally coordinated riverine bioassessment in Australia has almost ceased and the foci of management questions are on more localised assessments. However, rivers often span political and administrative boundaries, and their condition may be best protected and managed under national policies, supported by a coordinated national bioassessment framework. We argue that a nationally coordinated program for the bioassessment of riverine health is an essential element of sustainable management of a nation’s water resources. We outline new techniques and research needed to streamline current arrangements to meet present-day and emerging challenges for coordinating and integrating local, regional and national bioassessment activities. This paper draws on international experience in riverine bioassessment to identify attributes of successful broad-scale bioassessment programs and strategies needed to modernise freshwater bioassessment in Australia and re-establish national broad-scale focus.
Additional keywords: biological assessment, broad-scale, freshwater monitoring, water quality.
References
Aldous, A., Fitzsimons, J., Richter, B., and Bach, L. (2011). Droughts, floods and freshwater ecosystems: evaluating climate change impacts and developing adaptation strategies. Marine and Freshwater Research 62, 223–231.| Droughts, floods and freshwater ecosystems: evaluating climate change impacts and developing adaptation strategies.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3MXjsVKktrw%3D&md5=15aadf7b8e5568dd7bf69b52736c2d8fCAS |
Alluvium Consulting (2011). Framework for the assessment of river and wetland health: findings from the trials and options for uptake. Waterlines report series number 58, September 2011. (National Water Commission: Canberra, ACT.) Available at http://www.nwc.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/18631/FARWH-Waterlines-FINALV3_2209.pdf [Verified 3 August 2015].
ANZECC (1992). Australian water quality guidelines for fresh and marine waters. National water quality management strategy. Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council, Canberra.
ANZECC and ARMCANZ (2000a). Australian and New Zealand guidelines for fresh and marine water quality. National water quality management strategy. Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council and the Agriculture and Resource Management Council of Australia and New Zealand.
ANZECC and ARMCANZ (2000b). Australian guidelines for water quality monitoring and reporting. Section 3.5.3, pp. 3-23–3-33; Appendix 3 Sections A.3.4, A.3.5, pp. A3-5–A3-11.
Australian Government (2015). Water Act 2007 Series. (Australian Government.) Available at https://www.comlaw.gov.au/Series/C2007A00137 [Verified 31 July 2015].
Aylward, B., Bandyopadhyay, J., Belausteguigotia, J., Borkey, P., Cassar, A., Meadors, L., Saade, L., Siebentritt, M., Stein, R., Tognetti, S., Tortajada, C., Allan, T., Bauer, C., Guimaraes-Pereira, A., Kendall, M., Kiersch, B., Landry, C., Mestre Rodriguez, E., Meinzen-Dick, R., Moellendorg, S., Pagiola, S., Porras, I., Ratner, B., Shea, A., Swallow, B., Thomich, T., and Voutchkov, N. (2005). Freshwater ecosystem services. In ‘Ecosystems and Human Well-being: Policy Responses, Millennium Ecosystem Assessment’. Vol. 3. (Eds K. Chopra, R. Leemans, P. Kumar and H. Simons.) pp. 213–255. (Island Press: Washington, DC.)
Baird, D. J., and Hajibabaei, M. (2012). Biomonitoring 2.0: a new paradigm in ecosystem assessment made possible by next-generation DNA sequencing. Molecular Ecology 21, 2039–2044.
| Biomonitoring 2.0: a new paradigm in ecosystem assessment made possible by next-generation DNA sequencing.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 22590728PubMed |
Barbour, M. T., Gerritsen, J., Snyder, B. D., and Stribling, J. B. (1999). ‘Rapid Bioassessment Protocols for use in Streams and Wadeable Rivers: Periphyton, Benthic Macroinvertebrates and Fish’, 2nd edn. EPA 841-B-99–002. (US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water: Washington, DC.)
Barmuta, L. A., Emmerson, L., and Otahal, P. (2003). The sensitivity of AUSRIVAS to variations of input values, low natural diversity, and temporal variation. (Environment Australia: Canberra, ACT, Australia.) Available at http://www.environment.gov.au/resource/sensitivity-ausrivas-variations-input-values-low-natural-diversity-and-temporal-variation [Verified 3 August 2015].
Beketov, M. A., Kefford, B. J., Schäfer, R. B., and Liess, M. (2013). Pesticides reduce regional biodiversity of stream invertebrates. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 110, 11039–11043.
| Pesticides reduce regional biodiversity of stream invertebrates.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3sXhtFejsL3P&md5=6281e3bbea6f035254e64eafaca0092fCAS | 23776226PubMed |
Biggs, J., Ewald, N., Valentini, A., Gaboriaud, C., Dejean, T., Griffiths, R. A., Foster, J., Wilkinson, J. W., Arnell, A., Brotherton, P., Williams, P., and Dunn, F. (2015). Using eDNA to develop a national citizen science-based monitoring programme for the great crested newt (Triturus cristatus). Biological Conservation 183, 19–28.
| Using eDNA to develop a national citizen science-based monitoring programme for the great crested newt (Triturus cristatus).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Birk, S., Bonne, W., Borja, A., Brucet, S., Courrat, A., Poikane, S., Solimini, A., van de Bund, W. V., Zampoukas, N., and Hering, D. (2012). Three hundred ways to assess Europe’s surface waters: an almost complete overview of biological methods to implement the Water Framework Directive. Ecological Indicators 18, 31–41.
| Three hundred ways to assess Europe’s surface waters: an almost complete overview of biological methods to implement the Water Framework Directive.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Boonsoong, B., Sangpradub, N., and Barbour, M. T. (2009). Development of rapid bioassessment approaches using benthic macroinvertebrates for Thai streams. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 155, 129–147.
| Development of rapid bioassessment approaches using benthic macroinvertebrates for Thai streams.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1MXotlOrur4%3D&md5=d5cf4e1547d82f2def58adc17ed67400CAS | 18633723PubMed |
Bunn, S. E., Abal, E. G., Smith, M. J., Choy, S. C., Fellows, C. S., Harch, B. D., Kennard, M. J., and Sheldon, F. (2010). Integration of science and monitoring of river ecosystem health to guide investments in catchment protection and rehabilitation. Freshwater Biology 55, 223–240.
| Integration of science and monitoring of river ecosystem health to guide investments in catchment protection and rehabilitation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Buss, D. F., Carlisle, D. M., Chon, T., Culp, J., Harding, J. S., Keizer-Vlek, H. E., Robinson, W. A., Strachan, S., Thirion, C., and Hughes, R. M. (2015). Stream biomonitoring using macroinvertebrates around the globe: a comparison of large-scale programs. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 187, 4132.
| Stream biomonitoring using macroinvertebrates around the globe: a comparison of large-scale programs.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 25487459PubMed |
Carew, M. E., Pettigrove, V. J., Metzeling, L., and Hoffmann, A. A. (2013). Environmental monitoring using next generation sequencing: rapid identification of macroinvertebrate bioindicator species. Frontiers in Zoology 10, 45.
| Environmental monitoring using next generation sequencing: rapid identification of macroinvertebrate bioindicator species.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 23919569PubMed |
CESD (1999). Report of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development. Chapter 3 – Understanding the risks from toxic substances: cracks in the foundation of the federal house. (Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development.) Available at http://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/English/parl_cesd_199905_03_e_10169.html#0.2.2Z141Z1.NBS3AG.98WQBF.J1 [Verified 18 March 2015].
Chessman, B. C. (1995). Rapid assessment of rivers using macroinvertebrates: a procedure based on habitat-specific sampling, family level identification and a biotic index. Australian Journal of Ecology 20, 122–129.
| Rapid assessment of rivers using macroinvertebrates: a procedure based on habitat-specific sampling, family level identification and a biotic index.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Chessman, B. C. (2009). Climatic changes and 13-year trends in stream macroinvertebrate assemblages in New South Wales, Australia. Global Change Biology 15, 2791–2802.
| Climatic changes and 13-year trends in stream macroinvertebrate assemblages in New South Wales, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Commonwealth of Australia (2012). Water Act 2007. Basin Plan. (Australian Government: Canberra.) Available at https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2014C00388 [Verified 19 April 2016].
Dafforn, K. A., Johnston, E. L., Ferguson, A., Humphrey, C., Monk, W., Nichols, S. J., Simpson, S. L., Tulbure, M. G., and Baird, D. J. (2015). Big data opportunities and challenges for assessing multiple stressors across scales in aquatic ecosystems. Marine and Freshwater Research 67, 393–413.
| Big data opportunities and challenges for assessing multiple stressors across scales in aquatic ecosystems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Dapkey, T. (2008). Combining DNA barcoding and macroinvertebrate sampling to assess water quality. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.
Davies, P. E. (1994). River bioassessment manual version 1.0, National River Processes and Management Program, Monitoring River Health Initiative. (Environment Australia: Canberra, ACT, Australia.) Available at http://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/resources/0e33f53e-4be9-4f57-87bb-2200e573357d/files/bioassess.pdf [Verified 3 August 2015].
Davies, P. E. (2000). Development of a national river bioassessment system (AUSRIVAS) in Australia. In ‘Assessing the Biological Quality of Fresh Waters: RIVPACS and Other Techniques’. (Eds J. F. Wright, D. W. Sutcliffe and M. T. Furse.) pp. 113–124. (Freshwater Biological Association: Ambleside, UK.)
Davies, P. E., Harris, J. H., Hillman, T. J., and Walker, K. F. (2010). The Sustainable Rivers Audit: assessing river ecosystem health in the Murray–Darling Basin, Australia. Marine and Freshwater Research 61, 764–777.
| The Sustainable Rivers Audit: assessing river ecosystem health in the Murray–Darling Basin, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3cXptFGrs7Y%3D&md5=c88cb2efb657b3a36eb605b52a041147CAS |
DEFRA (2012). Biological river water quality. (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.) Available at http://www.defra.gov.uk/statistics/environment/inland-water/iwfg08-biorivqual/ [Verified 3 August 2015].
Deiner, K., Walser, J. C., Machler, E., and Altermatt, F. (2015). Choice of capture and extraction methods affect detection of freshwater biodiversity from environmental DNA. Biological Conservation 183, 53–63.
| Choice of capture and extraction methods affect detection of freshwater biodiversity from environmental DNA.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Dickens, C. W. S., and Graham, P. M. (2002). The South African Scoring System (SASS) version 5 rapid bioassessment method for rivers. African Journal of Aquatic Science 27, 1–10.
| The South African Scoring System (SASS) version 5 rapid bioassessment method for rivers.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Donnelly, T. H., Grace, M. R., and Hart, B. T. (1997). Algal blooms in the Darling–Barwon River, Australia. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution 99, 487–496.
| Algal blooms in the Darling–Barwon River, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK2sXmtFGmt7Y%3D&md5=d2bc371994c00c001aae15580694bcb6CAS |
Dudgeon, D., Arthington, A. H., Gessner, M. O., Kawabata, Z. I., Knowler, D. J., Leveque, C., Naiman, R. J., Prieur-Richard, A. H., Soto, D., Stiassny, M. L. J., and Sullivan, C. A. (2006). Freshwater biodiversity: importance, threats, status and conservation challenges. Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society 81, 163–182.
| Freshwater biodiversity: importance, threats, status and conservation challenges.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 16336747PubMed |
European Commission (2012). Report from the commission to the European Parliament and the Council on the implementation of the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) River Basin Management Plans. COM670 final. (European Union: Brussels, Belgium.) Available at http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52012DC0670&from=EN [Verified 19 August 2015].
European Parliament (2000). Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for community action in the field of water policy. Official Journal of the European Communities L327, 1–73.
Giling, D., Grace, M., Mac Nally, R., and Thompson, R. M. (2013). The influence of native replanting on stream ecosystem metabolism in a degraded landscape: can a little vegetation go a long way? Freshwater Biology 58, 2601–2613.
| The influence of native replanting on stream ecosystem metabolism in a degraded landscape: can a little vegetation go a long way?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hajibabaei, M., Shokralla, S., Zhou, X., Singer, G. A. C., and Baird, D. J. (2011). Environmental barcoding: a next-generation sequencing approach for biomonitoring applications using river benthos. PLoS One 6, e17497.
| Environmental barcoding: a next-generation sequencing approach for biomonitoring applications using river benthos.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3MXltV2rt7c%3D&md5=9fce3617ba6e5620d957d02c09f703e0CAS | 21533287PubMed |
Hale, R., Reich, P., Lake, P. S., Thomson, J., Williams, L., Cavagnaro, T., Johnson, M., and Daniel, T. (2011). Assessing ecological indicators for monitoring responses to riparian restoration in lowland streams of the southern Murray–Darling Basin. Report to the Murray–Darling Basin Commission, Canberra.
Harrison, E. T., Nichols, S., Gruber, B., Dyer, F., Tschierschke, A., and Norris, R. (2011). AUSRIVAS: Australia’s in-stream biological health 2003–2010. 2011 State of the environment reporting. Report prepared for The Australian Government, Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, Canberra.
Hawkins, C. P., Olson, J. R., and Hill, R. A. (2010). The reference condition: predicting benchmarks for ecological and water-quality assessments. Journal of the North American Benthological Society 29, 312–343.
| The reference condition: predicting benchmarks for ecological and water-quality assessments.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Jones, J. I., Davy-Bowker, J., Murphy, J. F., and Pretty, J. L. (2010). Ecological monitoring and assessment of pollution in rivers. In ‘Ecology of Industrial Pollution’. (Eds L.C. Batty and K. B. Hallberg.) pp. 126–146. (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK.)
Karr, J. R. (1999). Defining and measuring river health. Freshwater Biology 41, 221–234.
| Defining and measuring river health.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Koehn, J. D., and Lintermans, M. (2012). A strategy to rehabilitate fishes of the Murray–Darling Basin, south-eastern Australia. Endangered Species Research 16, 165–181.
| A strategy to rehabilitate fishes of the Murray–Darling Basin, south-eastern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kowalik, R. A., and Ormerod, S. J. (2006). Intensive sampling and transplantation experiments reveal continued effects of episodic acidification on sensitive stream invertebrates. Freshwater Biology 51, 180–191.
| Intensive sampling and transplantation experiments reveal continued effects of episodic acidification on sensitive stream invertebrates.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Liess, M., and Beketov, M. (2011). Traits and stress: keys to identify community effects of low levels of toxicants in test systems. Ecotoxicology (London, England) 20, 1328–1340.
| Traits and stress: keys to identify community effects of low levels of toxicants in test systems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3MXoslahs7c%3D&md5=4f9f558625f7fee8116fafab545f19d2CAS |
Marchant, R., Hirst, A., Norris, R. H., Butcher, R., Metzeling, L., and Tiller, D. (1997). Classification and prediction of macroinvertebrate assemblages from running waters in Victoria, Australia. Journal of the North American Benthological Society 16, 664–681.
| Classification and prediction of macroinvertebrate assemblages from running waters in Victoria, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Marsh, N., Sheldon, F., Wettin, P., Taylor, C., and Barma, D. (2012). Guidance on ecological responses and hydrological modelling for low-flow water planning. Waterlines number 76. National Water Commission. Canberra.
Masese, F. O., Omokoto, J. O., and Nyakeya, K. (2013). Biomonitoring as a prerequisite for sustainable water resources: a review of current status, opportunities and challenges to scaling up in East Africa. Ecohydrology and Hydrobiology 13, 173–191.
| Biomonitoring as a prerequisite for sustainable water resources: a review of current status, opportunities and challenges to scaling up in East Africa.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
MDBA (2014). Basin-wide environmental watering strategy. November 2014. Murray–Darling Basin Authority, Canberra.
Metzeling, L., Robinson, D., Perriss, S., and Marchant, R. (2002). Temporal persistence of benthic invertebrate communities in south-eastern Australian streams: taxonomic resolution and implications for the use of predictive models. Marine and Freshwater Research 53, 1223–1234.
| Temporal persistence of benthic invertebrate communities in south-eastern Australian streams: taxonomic resolution and implications for the use of predictive models.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Murphy, J. F., Davy-Bowker, J., McFarland, B., and Ormerod, S. J. (2013). A diagnostic biotic index for assessing acidity in sensitive streams in Britain. Ecological Indicators 24, 562–572.
| A diagnostic biotic index for assessing acidity in sensitive streams in Britain.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC38XhsFSlsrrE&md5=2980e9a7e3c712c95d1dd0c8438e51c8CAS |
Nichols, S. J., and Dyer, F. J. (2013). Contribution of national bioassessment approaches for assessing ecological water security: an AUSRIVAS case study. Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering 7, 669–687.
| Contribution of national bioassessment approaches for assessing ecological water security: an AUSRIVAS case study.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Nichols, S. J., Robinson, W. A., and Norris, R. H. (2010). Using the reference condition maintains the integrity of a bioassessment program in a changing climate. Journal of the North American Benthological Society 29, 1459–1471.
| Using the reference condition maintains the integrity of a bioassessment program in a changing climate.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Norris, R., and Nichols, S. (2011). Environmental flows: achieving ecological outcomes in variable environments. In ‘Water Resources Planning and Management’. (Eds Q. Grafton and K. Hussey.) pp. 331–349. (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK.)
Norris, R. H., and Norris, K. R. (1995). The need for biological assessment of water-quality – Australian perspective. Australian Journal of Ecology 20, 1–6.
| The need for biological assessment of water-quality – Australian perspective.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Norris, R. H., Liston, P., Davies, N., Coysh, J., Dyer, F., Linke, S., Prosser, I., and Young, B. (2001a). Snapshot of the Murray–Darling Basin River Condition. Murray–Darling Basin Commission, Canberra.
Norris, R. H., Prosser, I., Young, B., Liston, P., Bauer, N., Davies, N., Dyer, F., Linke, S., and Thoms, M. (2001b). The Assessment of River Condition (ARC). An audit of the ecological condition of Australian Rivers. Final report submitted to the National Land and Water Resources Audit Office, Canberra, Australia. Available at http://iae.canberra.edu.au/reprints/2001_Norris_etal_The_assessment_of_river_condition.pdf [Verified 23 March 2015].
Norris, R. H., Linke, S., Prosser, I., Young, W. J., Liston, P., Bauer, N., Sloane, N., Dyer, F., and Thoms, M. (2007). Very-broad-scale assessment of human impacts on river condition. Freshwater Biology 52, 959–976.
| Very-broad-scale assessment of human impacts on river condition.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Pilgrim, E. M., Jackson, S. A., Swenson, S., Turcsanyi, I., Friedman, E., Weigt, L., and Bagley, M. J. (2011). Incorporation of DNA barcoding into a large-scale biomonitoring program: opportunities and pitfalls. Journal of the North American Benthological Society 30, 217–231.
| Incorporation of DNA barcoding into a large-scale biomonitoring program: opportunities and pitfalls.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Pilière, A. F. H., Verberk, W. C. E. P., Gräwe, M., Breure, A. M., Dyer, S. D., Posthuma, L., De Zwart, D., Huijbregts, M. A. J., and Schipper, A. M. (2016). On the importance of trait interrelationships for understanding environmental responses of stream macroinvertebrates. Freshwater Biology 61, 181–194.
Pittock, J., and Finlayson, C. M. (2011). Australia’s Murray-Darling Basin: freshwater ecosystem conservation options in an era of climate change. Marine and Freshwater Research 62, 232–243.
| Australia’s Murray-Darling Basin: freshwater ecosystem conservation options in an era of climate change.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3MXjsVKksbo%3D&md5=0518e9efcca34d7eeea956f9f6faf05bCAS |
Poikane, S., Birk, S., Bohmer, J., Carvalho, L., de Hoyos, C., Gassner, H., Hellsten, S., Kelly, M., Solheim, A. L., Olin, M., Pall, K., Phillips, G., Portielje, R., Ritterbusch, D., Sandin, L., Schartau, A. K., Solimini, A. G., van den Berg, M., Wolfram, G., and van de Bund, W. (2015). A hitchhiker’s guide to European lake ecological assessment and intercalibration. Ecological Indicators 52, 533–544.
| A hitchhiker’s guide to European lake ecological assessment and intercalibration.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Reynoldson, T. B., and Wright, J. F. (2000). The reference condition: problems and solutions. In ‘Assessing the Biological Quality of Freshwaters. RIVPACS and Other Techniques’. (Eds J. F. Wright, D. W. Sutcliffe, and M. T. Furse.) pp. 293–304. (Freshwater Biological Association: Ambleside, UK.)
Reynoldson, T. B., Norris, R. H., Resh, V. H., Day, K. E., and Rosenberg, D. M. (1997). The reference condition: a comparison of multimetric and multivariate approaches to assess water-quality impairment using benthic macroinvertebrates. Journal of the North American Benthological Society 16, 833–852.
| The reference condition: a comparison of multimetric and multivariate approaches to assess water-quality impairment using benthic macroinvertebrates.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Reynoldson, T. B., Bombardier, M., Donald, D. B., O’Neill, H., Rosenberg, D. M., Shear, H., Tuominen, T. M., and Vaughan, H. H. (1999). Strategy for a Canadian aquatic biomonitoring network. NWRI Contribution number 99-248, Environment Canada, National Water Research Institute, Burlington, ON.
Reynoldson, T. B., Rosenberg, D. M., and Resh, V. H. (2001). Comparison of models predicting invertebrate assemblages for biomonitoring in the Fraser River catchment, British Columbia. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 58, 1395–1410.
| Comparison of models predicting invertebrate assemblages for biomonitoring in the Fraser River catchment, British Columbia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXmsV2ksLc%3D&md5=72185fc698b6b18f2e94c16357f6c043CAS |
Schäfer, R. B., Pettigrove, V., Rose, G., Allinson, G., Wightwick, A., von der Ohe, P. C., Shimeta, J., Kuhne, R., and Kefford, B. (2011). Effects of pesticides monitored with three sampling methods in 24 sites on macroinvertebrates and microorganisms. Environmental Science & Technology 45, 1665–1672.
| Effects of pesticides monitored with three sampling methods in 24 sites on macroinvertebrates and microorganisms.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Shapiro, M. H., Holdsworth, S. M., and Paulsen, S. G. (2008). The need to assess the condition of aquatic resources in the US. Journal of the North American Benthological Society 27, 808–811.
| The need to assess the condition of aquatic resources in the US.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Shokralla, S., Spall, J. L., Gibson, J. F., and Hajibabaei, M. (2012). Next-generation sequencing technologies for environmental DNA research. Molecular Ecology 21, 1794–1805.
| Next-generation sequencing technologies for environmental DNA research.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC38XptVGksLo%3D&md5=66f13fec8b3e26759d8c4c8f5a3b4432CAS | 22486820PubMed |
Simpson, J. C., and Norris, R. H. (2000). Biological assessment of river quality: development of AUSRIVAS models and outputs. In ‘Assessing the Biological Quality of Fresh Waters: RIVPACS and Other Techniques’. (Eds J. F. Wright, D. W. Sutcliffe, and M. T. Furse.) pp. 125–142. (Freshwater Biological Association: Ambleside, UK.)
Statzner, B., and Beche, L. A. (2010). Can biological invertebrate traits resolve effects of multiple stressors on running water ecosystems? Freshwater Biology 55, 80–119.
| Can biological invertebrate traits resolve effects of multiple stressors on running water ecosystems?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Stein, E. D., Martinez, M. C., Stiles, S., Miller, P. E., and Zakharov, E. V. (2014). Is DNA barcoding actually cheaper and faster than traditional morphological methods: results from a survey of freshwater bioassessment efforts in the United States? PLoS One 9, e95525.
| 24755838PubMed |
Stubauer, I., Hering, D., Korte, T., Hoffmann, A., Brabec, K., Sharma, S., Shrestha, M., Kahlown, M. A., Tahir, M. A., Kumar, A., Sharma, M. P., Bari, M. F., Badruzzaman, A. B. M., Chhopel, G. K., and Moog, O. (2010). The development of an assessment system to evaluate the ecological status of rivers in the Hindu Kush–Himalayan region: introduction to the special feature. Hydrobiologia 651, 1–15.
| The development of an assessment system to evaluate the ecological status of rivers in the Hindu Kush–Himalayan region: introduction to the special feature.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Suter, G. W., and Cormier, S. M. (2015). Why care about aquatic insects: uses, benefits and services. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management 11, 188–194.
| Why care about aquatic insects: uses, benefits and services.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 25376941PubMed |
Thomson, J. R., Thompson, R. M., Metzeling, L., Reich, P., Bond, N. R., Cunningham, S. C., and Mac Nally, R. (2012). The influence of vegetation, flows and climate variation on stream biota: lessons from the big dry in southern Australia. Global Change Biology 18, 1582–1596.
| The influence of vegetation, flows and climate variation on stream biota: lessons from the big dry in southern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Tolonen, K. T., Hamalainen, H., Lensu, A., Merilainen, J. J., Palomaki, A., and Karjalainen, J. (2014). The relevance of ecological status to ecosystem functions and services in a large boreal lake. Journal of Applied Ecology 51, 560–571.
| The relevance of ecological status to ecosystem functions and services in a large boreal lake.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Tullos, D. D., Penrose, D. L., Jennings, G. D., and Cope, W. G. (2009). Analysis of functional traits in reconfigured channels: implications for the bioassessment and disturbance of river restoration. Journal of the North American Benthological Society 28, 80–92.
| Analysis of functional traits in reconfigured channels: implications for the bioassessment and disturbance of river restoration.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
US General Accounting Office (2000). Water quality: key EPA and state decisions limited by inconsistent and incomplete data. GAO/RCED-00–54. US General Accounting Office, Washington, DC.
US EPA (2008). National Aquatic Resource Surveys: a progress report. EPA 841-F-08–001. US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds.
US EPA (2013). Biological assessment program review: assessing level of technical rigor to support water quality management. EPA 820-R-13–001. US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Science and Technology, Washington, DC.
WFD (2000). Water framework directive of the European Parliament and the Council, of 23 October 2000, establishing a framework for community action in the field of water policy. Official Journal of the European Communities L327, 1–72.
White, H. L., Nichols, S. J., Robinson, W. A., and Norris, R. H. (2012). More for less: a study of environmental flows during drought in two Australian rivers. Freshwater Biology 57, 858–873.
| More for less: a study of environmental flows during drought in two Australian rivers.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Woodward, G., Gray, C., and Baird, D. J. (2013). Biomonitoring for the 21st Century: new perspectives in an age of globalisation and emerging environmental threats. Limnetica 32, 159–173.
Wright, J. F., Sutcliffe, D. W., and Furse, M. T. (2000). ‘Assessing the Biological Quality of Fresh Waters: RIVPACS and Other Techniques.’ (Freshwater Biological Association: Ambleside, UK.)
Yoder, C. O., and Barbour, M. T. (2009). Critical technical elements of state bioassessment programs: a process to evaluate program rigor and comparability. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 150, 31–42.
| Critical technical elements of state bioassessment programs: a process to evaluate program rigor and comparability.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 19043790PubMed |