0000000000322897
AUTHOR
Jara García-chicote
Zooplankton species as indicators of trophic state in reservoirs from Mediterranean river basins
Zooplankton abundance and composition is sensitive to eutrophication, and its top-down effect in the planktonic food web can alter the classification of the trophic state of waterbodies based on th...
Zooplankton abundance: A neglected key element in the evaluation of reservoir water quality
Abstract Based on our results, we propose the use of zooplankton abundance (density or biomass) as an indicator to complement the information currently being used concerning the quality of water in reservoirs. Until now, the Water Framework Directive (EU) for lakes and reservoirs has not included zooplankton because the classification of the water trophic state is based on a bottom-up model: an increase in nutrients implies an increase in primary producers and, therefore, poorer water quality. The use of zooplankton has recently been claimed due to their sensitivity to environmental changes and their control over primary producers. From our work, carried out from 2006 to 2009 (summer and wi…
Zooplankton species as indicators of trophic state in reservoirs from Mediterranean river basins
Zooplankton abundance and composition is sensitive to eutrophication, and its top-down effect in the planktonic food web can alter the classification of the trophic state of waterbodies based on the microscopic primary producers. However, this relevant group in aquatic ecosystems is overlooked when lakes and reservoirs are monitored to describe and improve water quality as required by the European Water Framework Directive (WFD). Fortunately, we have data on monitored zooplankton and the physical, chemical, and biological variables prescribed by the WFD in 20 Mediterranean reservoirs over a 4-year period (summer and winter sampled). We related zooplankton composition (90 species) with these…