Macrophytes - inland waters

The water quality element macrophytes is currently based solely on the response of macrophytes along the phosphorous gradient. The index system applies only to lakes and only qualitative macrophyte data (presence/absence) were available for its development.

Macrophytes in WATERS
In this sub-project, we will test various multimetric indices (e.g., the Free index) for the assessment of ecological status. Such indices will also consider nature conservation values in the form of the Red List species found in water bodies.

We will also examine additional environmental pressures, such as acidification and, especially, hydromorphological alterations. In 2010, the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency approved a new standard method for sampling macrophytes in lakes. This new method will give us access to quantitative macrophyte data for the development of new indices. The quantitative data will also enable us to quantify uncertainty in our assessments – something missing entirely in the present version of the quality element.

For macrophytes in streams, we will build a national database that will be used in developing a prototype index system. As macrophyte sampling is resource intensive, we will test a new remote-sensing technique, using unmanned aerial vehicles equipped with digital sensors for macrophyte monitoring and assessment in lakes.

The macrophyte work in WATERS will advance the macrophyte-based assessment of lakes, the development of a stream assessment system, and, in the long term, resource-efficient macrophyte monitoring.