Challenges in developing fish-based ecological assessment methods for large floodplain rivers |
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| Authors: | J. J. DE LEEUW,A. D. BUIJSE,G. HAIDVOGL,M. LAPINSKA,R. NOBLE,R. REPECKA,& T. VIRBICKAS,W. WI&# NIEWOLSKI, C. WOLTER |
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| Affiliation: | Institute for Marine Resources and Ecosystem Studies (IMARES), IJmuiden, The NetherlandsInstitute for Inland Water Management and Waste Water Treatment (RWS-RIZA), Lelystad, The NetherlandsInstitute for Hydrobiology and Aquatic Ecosystem Management, University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Vienna, AustriaDepartment of Applied Ecology, University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland and International Centre for Ecology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Lodz, PolandInternational Fisheries Institute, University of Hull, Hull, UKDepartment of Aquatic Ecosystems, Institute of Ecology of Vilnius University, Vilnius, LithuaniaDepartment of River Fisheries, Inland Fisheries Institute, Olsztyn, Żabieniec, Piaseczno, PolandLeibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Berlin, Germany |
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| Abstract: | ![]()
Abstract Large European floodplain rivers have a great diversity in habitats and fish fauna, but tend to be heavily modified. The complexity of these river systems and their multiple human impacts pose considerable challenges for assessment of their ecological status. This paper discusses: (1) the application of historical information on fish fauna and habitat availability to describe reference conditions; (2) responses of fish assemblages to human disturbance by comparing various rivers and river segments with different impacts and/or time series within rivers; (3) the role of floodplain water bodies in ecological assessment; and (4) monitoring of large rivers using different gears and sampling designs for main channels and floodplain habitats. The challenge for the future is to standardise and calibrate sampling methods and data to enhance the potential for ecological assessment of large rivers. |
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| Keywords: | floodplains heavily modified water bodies monitoring reference conditions |
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