Estuarine health assessed by sediment biotic and geochemical indices: insights into sustainable decision-making in the Sado transitional system (SW Portugal)
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View abstract on PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.Assessing estuarine ecological quality status (EcoQS) is challenging. A multi-criteria sediment analysis in the Sado estuary found most sites unacceptable, highlighting metal(loid) pollution and the need for integrated management approaches.
Area Of Science
- Estuarine Ecology
- Environmental Chemistry
- Benthic Ecology
Background
- Estuaries face challenges in balancing socio-economic development with environmental quality.
- Conventional ecological quality status (EcoQS) indices are often compromised by natural gradients and human pressures in estuaries.
- Effective tools are needed for reliable ecological assessment and management of these dynamic systems.
Purpose Of The Study
- To apply a practical, multi-criteria sediment assessment to evaluate benthic EcoQS in the Sado estuary.
- To identify key stressors and assess the suitability of different indices for estuarine environments.
- To provide a robust framework for environmental management and monitoring of restoration progress.
Main Methods
- Combined five indices: two based on benthic foraminiferal taxa and three on metal(loid) concentrations.
- Reclassified each index into a binary "Acceptable" or "Unacceptable" EcoQS.
- Calculated a composite index integrating all five metrics and performed reliability analysis.
Main Results
- Most sampling stations in the Sado estuary were assessed as "Unacceptable" for benthic EcoQS.
- Metal(loid) contamination/pollution was a major contributor to the poor EcoQS.
- The composite index provided a more robust assessment than individual indices, with the Modified Pollution Index (MPI) and foraminiferal diversity index Exp(H'<sub>bc</sub>) showing high suitability.
Conclusions
- The applied framework effectively translates complex environmental data into actionable guidance for estuarine management.
- Integrated approaches using multiple indices are crucial for robust EcoQS assessment in dynamic estuarine systems.
- The study identified priority areas for meeting Water Framework Directive (WFD) goals and supports restoration monitoring.
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