Using multiple ecosystem components, in assessing ecological status in Spanish (Basque Country) Atlantic marine...

Area of Science:

• Marine Biology
• Environmental Science
• Ecology

Background:

• European Water Framework and Marine Strategy Directives mandate integrated ecological quality assessments for coastal and estuarine systems.
• Quality assessment requires integrating biological elements (phytoplankton, benthos, algae, phanerogams, fishes) with physico-chemical factors (pollutants).

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a methodology for integrating diverse data into a unique ecological quality assessment for 51 stations across 18 water bodies in the Basque Country.
• To apply this methodology to four water body typologies, including soft-bottom coastal areas and three estuary types.

Main Methods:

• Decision trees were used to integrate water, sediment, and biomonitor chemical data for physico-chemical assessment.
• Multiple biological ecosystem elements were integrated into a biological assessment.
• Integration schemes combined station assessments into water body assessments based on data availability.

Main Results:

• The integrated methodology yielded results that were biologically and ecologically coherent.
• Improvements in physico-chemical quality were frequently linked to enhanced quality of benthos and fish populations.
• Examples illustrated element responses to pressures and changes in integrated quality over time.

Conclusions:

• The developed tools enable policymakers and managers to make scientifically informed decisions in water management.
• The methodology supports mitigation of human pressures and facilitates ecosystem recovery processes in estuarine and coastal environments.