Skip to main content

Evaluation of the ecological status of an impaired watershed by using a multi-index approach

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment volume 174, pages 493–508 (2011)Cite this article

Abstract

The objective of this study was to use an integrative approach to assess the ecological status of a small river impacted by multiple sources of disturbance. The River Febros (NW Portugal) is a small and highly impacted non-regulated river; approximately 44% of the watershed area is dedicated to agriculture, but there is also some urbanization. Environmental status was evaluated using a new multi-index approach, combining quality indices for water (Water Quality Index (WQI)), benthic macroinvertebrates (Iberian Biological Monitoring Working Party Index (IBMWP)), and human modification (Riparian Forest Quality Index (QBR)); Ecological Status River Mediterranean Index (ECOSTRIMED); River Habitat Survey (RHS)). Surveys were carried out between October 2002 and 2003, along four stretches of the main course of the river for physicochemical characteristics, as well as water microbiology and macroinvertebrates. Water quality was poor at all sites (WQI averaged 30.4%) and decreased downstream. The RHS (assessment of instream habitats and the river corridor) and the QBR quantification displayed the same trend. Macroinvertebrates diversity was permanently low with only the most tolerant insects taxa present; oligochaetes dominated. The ecological status of River Febros was well represented using the experimental assessment system, where a downstream decrease in condition was noticeable (in spite of a lower water quality upstream). Our results emphasize the importance of assessing several components of disturbed ecosystems in order to ascertain overall quality and the importance of promoting improvement of the riparian gallery as a buffer against multiple agents of disturbance.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

43,34 €

Price includes VAT (Finland)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

References

  • Alba-Tercedor, J., & Sánchez-Ortega, A. (1988). Un método rápido para evaluar la calidad biológica de las aguas corrientes en el de Helawell (1978). Limnetica, 4, 51–56.

    Google Scholar 

  • Allan, J. D., Erickson, D. L., & Fay, J. (1997). The influence of catchment land use on stream integrity across multiple spatial scales. Freshwater Biology, 37, 149–161.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • APHA (1992). Standard methods for the examination of the water and wastewater. Washington, DC: American Public Health Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Armitage, P. D., Moss, D., Wright, J. F., & Furse, M. T. (1983). The performance of a new biological water quality score system based on macroinvertebrates over a wide range of unpolluted running-water sites. Water Research, 17, 333–347.

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Azrina, M. Z., Yap, C. K., Ismail, A. R., Ismail, A., & Tan, S. G. (2006). Anthropogenic impacts on the distribution and biodiversity of benthic macroinvertebrates and water quality of the Langat River, Peninsular Malaysia. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 64, 337–347.

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baer, K. E., & Pringle, C. M. (2000). In P. J. Boon, B. R. Davies, & G. E. Petts (Eds.), Global perspectives on river conservation: Science, policy and practice (pp. 381–398). Chichester: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barbour, M. T., Gerritsen, J., Snyder, B. D., & Stribling, J. B. (1999). Rapid bioassessment protocols for use in strems and wadeable rivers: Periphyton, benthic macroinvertebrates and fish (2nd ed.). EPA 841-B-9-002. U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, Washington, D. C. Assessed 10 May 2004 from http://www.epa.gov/owow/monitoring/techmon.html.

  • Bordalo, A. A. (1993). Effects of salinity on bacterioplankton: Field and microcosm experiments. Journal of Applied Bacteriology, 75, 393–398.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bordalo, A. A., Nilsumranchit, W., & Chalermwat, K. (2001). Water quality and uses of the Bangpakong River (Eastern Thailand). Water Research, 35, 3635–3642.

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bordalo, A. A., Teixeira, R., & Wiebe, W. J. (2006). A water quality index applied to an international shared river basin: The case of the Douro River. Environmental Management, 38, 910–920.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boué, H., & Chanton, R. (1962). Biologie animale (723 pp.). Zoologie I. G. Doin & Cie..

  • Bray, J. R., & Curtis, J. T. (1957). An ordination of the upland forest communities of southern Wisconsin. Ecology Monographs, 27, 325–349.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Briers, R. A., & Gee, J. H. R. (2004). Riparian forestry management and adult stream insects. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 8, 545–549.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brown, L. R. (2005). Aquatic assemblages of the highly urbanized Santa Ana river basin, California. American Fisheries Society Symposium, 47, 263–287.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cabral, J. P., & Marques, C. (2006). Faecal coliform bacteria in Febros river (Northwest Portugal): Temporal variation, correlation with water parameters, and species identification. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 118, 21–36.

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carpenter, J. (1965). The accuracy of the Winkler method for dissolved oxygen. Limnology and Oceanography, 10, 135–140.

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carpenter, S. R., Caraco, N. F., Correll, D. L., Howarth, R. W., Sharpley, A. N., & Smith, V. H. (1998). Nonpoint pollution of surface waters with phosphorus and nitrogen. Ecological Applications, 8, 559–568.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carritt, D. E., & Carpenter, J. H. (1966). Comparison and evaluation of currently employed modifications of the winkler method for determining dissolved oxygen in seawater: A NASCO report. Journal of Marine Research, 24, 286–318.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chinery, M. (1992). Insects d’Europe. Multiguide nature (pp. 380). Paris: Bordas.

  • Chovanec, A., Jäger, P., Jungwirth, M., Koller-Kreimel, V., Moog, O., Muhar, S., et al. (2000). The Austrian way of assessing the ecological integrity of running waters: A contribution to the EU water framework directive. Hydrobiologia, 422/423, 445–452.

  • Clarke, K. R., & Warwick, R. M. (1994). Change in marine communities. An approach to statistical analysis and interpolation (pp. 144). Plymouth, UK: National Environmental Research Council.

    Google Scholar 

  • Collier, K. J., & Smith, B. J. (2000). Interactions of adult stoneflies (Plecoptera) with Riparian Zones I. Effects of air temperature and humidity on longevity. Aquatic Insects, 22, 275–284.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cortes, R. M. V., Oliveira, S. V., Cabral, D. A., Santos, S., & Ferreira, T. (2002). Different scales of analysis in classifying streams: From a multimetric towards an integrate system approach. Large Rivers, 13(Suppl. Archiv für Hydrobiologie, 141), 209–224.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cortes, R. M. V., Varandas, S., Hughes, S. J., & Ferreira, M. T. (2008). Combining habitat and biological characterization: Ecological validation of the River Habitat Survey. Limnetica, 27, 39–56.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dale, V. H., Brown, S., Haeuber, R., Hobbs, N. T., Huntly, N., Naiman, R. J., et al. (2000). Ecological principles and guidelines for managing the use of land. Ecological Applications, 10, 639–670.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davenport, A. J., Gurnell, A. M., & Armitage, P. D. (2004). Habitat Survey and classification of urban rivers. River Research and Applications, 20, 687–704.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • EC (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. (22.12.2000).

  • EEC (1976). Council directive of 8 December 1975 concerning the quality of bathing water (76/160/EEC). Official Journal of the European Community, 1–7. (05.02.1976).

  • Fitter, R., & Manuel, R. (1994). Lakes, rivers, streams & ponds of Britain & North-West Europe. Collins photo guide (p. 382). Harper Collins Publishers.

  • Geraldes, A. M., & Boavida, M. J. (2003). Distinct age and landscape influence on two reservoirs under the same climate. Hydrobiologia, 504, 277–288.

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gergel, S. E., Turner, M. G., Millar, J. R., Melack, J. M., & Stanley, E. H. (2002). Landscape indicators of human impacts to riverine systems. Aquatic Sciences, 64, 118–128.

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grasshoff, K., Ehrhardt, M., & Kremling, K. (1983). Methods of seawater analysis. Second revised and extended edition (p. 419). Weinheim: Verlag Chemie.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harper, D. (1992). Eutrophication of freshwaters. Principles, problems and restoration (p. 327). New York: Chapmann & Hall.

  • Harper, D. M., Ebrahimnezhad, M., Taylor, E., Dickinson, S., Decamp, O., Vernier, G., et al. (1999). A catchment-scale approach to the physical restoration of lowland UK rivers. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 9, 141–157.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • House, M. A. (1989). A water quality index for river management. Journal of the Institute of Water & Environmental Management, 3, 336–344.

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • House, M. A., & Ellis, J. B. (1987). The development of water quality indices for operational management. Water Science and Technology, 19, 145–154.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jacobsen, D., Schultz, R., & Encalada, A. (1997). Structure and diversity of stream invertebrate assemblages: The influence of temperature with altitude and latitude. Freshwater Biology, 38, 247–261.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jones, M. N. (1984). Nitrate reduction by shaking with cadmium: Alternative to cadmium columns. Water Research, 18, 643–646.

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jordan, T. E., Whigham, D. F., Hofmockel, K. H., & Pittek, M. A. (2003). Wetlands and aquatic processes. Nutrient and sediment removal by a restored wetland receiving agricultural runoff. Journal of Environmental Quality, 32, 1534–1547.

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Karr, J. R., Fausch, K. D., Angermeier, P. L., Yant, P. R., & Schlosser, I. J. (1986). Assessing biological integrity in running waters: A method and its rationale. III natural history survey (p. 28). Urbana: Illinois Natural History.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kronvang, B., Bechamnn, M., Lundekvam, H., Behrendt, H., Rubæk, G. H., Schoumans, O. F., et al. (2005). Phosphorous losses from agricultural areas in river basins: Effects and uncertainties of targeted mitigation measures. Journal of Environmental Quality, 34, 2129–2144.

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lazdinis, M., & Angelstam, P. (2005). Functionality of riparian forest ecotones in the context of former Soviet Union and Swedish forest management histories. Forest Policy and Economics, 7, 321–332.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lovell, S. T., & Sullivan, W. C. (2006). Environmental benefits of conservation buffers in the United States: Evidence, promise, and open questions. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 112, 249–260.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lyon, J., & Gross, N. M. (2005). Patterns of plant diversity and plant-environmental relationships across three riparian corridors. Forest Ecology and Management, 204, 267–278.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maddock, I. (1999). The importance of physical habitat assessment for evaluating river health. Freshwater Biology, 41, 373–391.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mainstone, C. P., & Parr, W. (2002). Phosphorous in rivers-ecology and management. The Science of The Total Environment, 282/283, 25–47.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mander, Ü., Kuusemets, V., & Ivask, M. (1995). Nutrient dynamics of riparian ecotones: A case study from the Porijõgi River catchment, Estonia. Landscape and Urban Planning, 31, 333–348.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mokaya, S. K., Mathooko, J. M., & Leichtfried, M. (2004). Influence of anthropogenic activities on water quality of a tropical stream ecosystem. African Journal of Ecology, 42, 281–288.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Munné, A., Sola, C., & Prat, N. (1998). QBR: Un índice rápido para la evaluación de la calidad de los bosques de ribera. Tecnologia Del Agua, 175, 20–37.

    Google Scholar 

  • Munné, A., Prat, N., Solà, F., Bonada, N., & Rieradevall, M. (2003). A simple field method for assessing the ecological quality of riparian habitat in rivers and streams: QBR index. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 13, 147–163.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Naiman, R. J., & Décamps, H. (1997). The ecology of interfaces: Riparian zones. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics, 28, 621–658.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Naiman, R. J., Magnuson, J. J., McKnight, D. M., & Stanford, J. A. (1995). The freshwater imperative: A research agenda (p. 165). Washington, DC: Island Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Newman, P. J., & Medmenham, W. R. (1992). Assessment of river water quality in UK. Tribune de l’eau, 555, 8–17.

    Google Scholar 

  • Novotny, V., Bartošová, A., O’Reilly, N., & Ehlinger, T. (2005). Unlocking the relationship of biotic integrity of impaired waters to anthropogenic stresses. Water Research, 39, 184–198.

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Palmer, M. A., Glenn, E. M., Bockstaed, N. E., Brooks, S., Pizzuto, J. E., Wiegand, C., et al. (2002). The ecological consequences of changing land use for running waters, with a case study of urbanizing watersheds in Maryland. Yale Bulletin of Environmental Science, 107, 85–113.

    Google Scholar 

  • Parsons, T. R., Maita, Y., & Lalli, C. M. (1984). A manual of chemical and biological methods for seawater analysis (pp. 101–112). Elmsford: Pergamon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Paul, M. J., & Meyer, J. L. (2001). Streams in the urban landscape. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics, 32, 333–365.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Petersen, I., Masters, Z., Hildrew, A. G., & Ormerod, S. J. (2004). Dispersal of adult aquatic insects in catchments of differing land use. Journal of Applied Ecology, 41, 934–950.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Piégay, H., & Landon, N. (1997). Promoting ecological management of riparian forests on the Drôme River, France. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 7, 287–304.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prat, N., Munné, A., Rieradevall, M., Solà, C., & Bonada, N. (2000). ECOSTRIMED. Protocol per determinar l’estat ecològic dels rius mediterranis. Diputació de Barcelona. Área de Medi Ambient (Estudis de la Qualitat Ecològica dels Rius, 8) (p. 94).

  • Raven, P. J., Holmes, N. T. H., Dawson, F. H., & Everard, M. (1998). Quality assessment using River Habitat Survey data. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 8, 477–499.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Resh, V. H., & Rosenberg, D. M. (1984). The ecology of aquatic insects (p. 625). New York: Praeger.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reynoldson, T. B., Norris, R. H., Resh, V. H., Day, K. E., & Rosenberg, D. M. (1997). The reference condition: A comparison of multimetric approaches to assess water-quality impairment using benthic macroinvertebrates. Journal of the North American Benthological Society, 16, 833–852.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rico, E., Ralla, A., Sevillano, M. A., & Arretxe, M. L. (1992). Compairison of several biological índices based on river macroinvertebrates benthic community for the assessment of running water quality. Annales de Limnologie, 28, 147–156.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robertson, A. I., & Rowling, R. W. (2000). Effects of livestock on Riparian Zone vegetation in an Australian Dryland river. Regulated Rivers: Research & Management, 16, 527–541.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rogers, C. E., Brabander, D. J., Barbour, M. T., & Hemond, H. F. (2002). Use of physical, chemical, and biological indices to assess impacts of contaminants and physical habitat alteration in urban streams. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 21, 1156–1167.

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ross, H. H., Ross, C. A., & Ross, J. R. P. (1982). A textbook of entomology (p. 666). Hoboken: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • SCOR-UNESCO (1966). Determination of photosynthetic pigments in seawater. Report of the SCOR-UNESCO Working Group 17. In UNESCO (Ed.), Monographs on oceanographic methodology (pp. 11–18). Paris: UNESCO.

  • SDD (1976). Development of a water quality index (p. 72). Edinburgh: Scottish Development Department, Report ARD3.

  • Shannon, C. E., & Weaver, W. (1963). The mathematical theory of communications (p. 125). Urbana: University of Illinois Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sweeting, R. A. (1994). In P. Calow & G. E. Petts (Eds.), The rivers handbook (2nd Vol., pp. 23–32). Oxford: Blackwell.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Tabacchi, E., Lambs, L., Guilloy, H., Planty-Tabacchi, A. M., Muller, E., & Décamps, H. (2000). Impacts of riparian vegetation on hydrological processes. Hydrological Processes, 14, 2959–2976.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tachet, H., Boumaud, M., & Richoux, P. H. (1994). Introduction à l’étude des macroinvertebres des eaux douces (Systématique élémentaire et aperçu écologique) (4e ed.). Université Lyon I et Association Française de Limnologie.

  • Thoms, M. C., & Sheldon, F. (2000). Lowland rivers: An Australian introduction. Regulated Rivers: Research and Management, 16, 375–383.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tickner, D., Armitage, P. D., Bickerton, M. A., & Hall, K. A. (2000). Assessing stream quality using information on mesohabitat distribution and character. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 10, 179–196.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Udawatta, R. P., Krstansky, J. J., Henderson, G. S., & Garrett, H. E. (2002). Agroforestry practices, runoff, and nutrient loss: A paired watershed comparison. Journal of Environmental Quality, 31, 1214–1225.

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Urban, M. C., Skelly, D. K., Burchsted, D., Price, W., & Lowry, S. (2006). Stream communities across a rural-urban landscape gradient. Diversity and Distributions, 12, 337–350.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vogt, J., Puumalainen, J., Kennedy, P., & Folving, S. (2004). Integrating information on river networks, catchments and major forest types: Towards the characterisation and analysis of European landscapes. Landscape and Urban Planning, 67, 27–41.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vought, L. B.-M., Pinay, G., Fuglsang, A., & Ruffinoni, C. (1995). Structure and function of buffer strips from a water quality perspective in agricultural landscapes. Landscape and Urban Planning, 31, 323–331.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walsh, S. E., Soranno, P. A., & Rutledge, D. T. (2003). Research. Lakes, Wetlands and streams as predictors of land use/cover distribution. Environmental Management, 31, 198–214.

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Webb, A. A., & Erskine, W. D. (2003). A practical scientific approach to riparian vegetation rehabilitation in Australia. Journal of Environmental Management, 68, 329–341.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Webster, J. R., Benfield, E. F., Ehrman, T. P., Schaeffer, M. A., Tank, J. L., Hutchens, J. J., et al. (1999). What happens to allochthonous material that falls into streams? A synthesis of new and published information from Coweeta. Freshwater Biology, 41, 687–705.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Williams, J. E., Wood, C. A., & Dombeck, M. P. (1997). Watershed restoration: Principles and practices (p. 561). Bethesda, Maryland: American Fisheries Society.

  • Winterbourn, M. J., & Townsend, C. R. (1991). In R. S. K. Barnes & K. H. Mann (Eds.), Fundaments of aquatic ecology (2nd ed., pp. 230–242). London: Blackwell.

Download references

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Hydrobiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS), University of Porto, Lg. Professor Abel Salazar, 2, 4099-003, Porto, Portugal

    Liliana Carvalho & Adriano A. Bordalo

  2. Florestal Department, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Apartado 1013, 5001-911, Vila Real Codex, Portugal

    Rui Cortes

  3. CIIMAR/CIMAR – Center for Interdisciplinary Environmental and Marine Research, Rua dos Bragas, 289, 4050-123, Porto, Portugal

    Adriano A. Bordalo

Authors
  1. Liliana Carvalho
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Rui Cortes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Adriano A. Bordalo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Liliana Carvalho.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Carvalho, L., Cortes, R. & Bordalo, A.A. Evaluation of the ecological status of an impaired watershed by using a multi-index approach. Environ Monit Assess 174, 493–508 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-010-1473-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-010-1473-9

Keywords

  • WQI
  • IBMWP
  • RHS
  • QBR
  • Scaled values
  • River Febros