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Development and evaluation of the Finnish fish-based lake classification method

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Abstract

The Finnish fish-based lake assessment system EQR4 was updated using more extensive lake data with tighter reference criteria. The updated EQR4 (EQR4new) had significant and tighter pressure (eutrophication) relationship compared to the previous version (EQR4old). The EQR4new separated impacted and reference lakes with lower misclassification risk compared to the EQR4old. All the variables within the multi-metric index EQR4new (total biomass, total number of individuals, cyprinid biomass %, and indicator species) were found to be relevant. The classification output in relation to eutrophication was higher in the northern part of the country compared to the southern lakes which was probably due to the climate-dependent reduction in productivity. Despite the clear pressure response and the ability to separate reference and impacted lakes, the accuracy of the EQR4new values is relatively modest. Including regional patterns in the composition and variability of lake fish communities in Finland would increase the accuracy of the assessment method and, moreover, contribute to the excellence of fish community ecology of boreal lakes.

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Acknowledgments

We thank all the field crews for hard work in test fishing lakes and making this publication possible. Zeynep Pekcan-Hekim and Teppo Vehanen gave valuable comments on the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 65, 00014, Helsinki, Finland

    M. Olin

  2. Finnish Game and Fisheries Research Institute, Evo Fisheries Research Station, 16970, Evo, Finland

    M. Rask & J. Ruuhijärvi

  3. Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, P.O. Box 30, 00023, Government, Finland

    J. Tammi

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  1. M. Olin
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  2. M. Rask
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  3. J. Ruuhijärvi
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  4. J. Tammi
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Correspondence to M. Olin.

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Handling editor: P. Nõges

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Olin, M., Rask, M., Ruuhijärvi, J. et al. Development and evaluation of the Finnish fish-based lake classification method. Hydrobiologia 713, 149–166 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-013-1499-4

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