EUNIS inland water habitats revision - description of biological communities (Part 1)

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EUNIS inland water habitats revision - description of biological communities

including species richness, characteristic, common and dominant taxa in habitats in reference conditions and in impacted conditions

How to cite this report: Disclaimer

This report is a proposed revision of the inland water section of the EUNIS habitats classification covering all fully aquatic environments in rivers, lakes, and other standing or running waters in Europe. The habitats are described using an analytical framework based on truly aquatic biota and their presence in waterbodies at bankfull water level. The scope of the report is based on the broad habitat types monitored under the EU Water Framework Directive, with the addition of some important water body types not captured by the EU Water Framework Directive broad types: saline rivers and lakes, tidal rivers, springs, ponds and pools, glacial rivers and lakes, temporary rivers and lakes, permanent marl/karst lakes and volcanic lakes.

At level three of the classification, the inland water habitats are frequently habitats which vary both spatially and over time, but these should be distinguished from the EUNIS group Z: Habitat complexes, some of which also include surface water habitats. The report does not include riparian habitats, emergent macrophyte vegetation (e.g. helophytes), semi-terrestrial plant and animal communities nor dry-phase communities of temporary waters. These habitats and communities are covered under other sections within the EUNIS classification; however, some are included in the description of the Inland Water habitat types where appropriate. A few inland water habitat type descriptions may be amended after the finalisation of this report to cover closely associated temporary habitats.

Note that artificial water bodies such as constructed reservoirs, are represented in EUNIS group: Y5 Highly artificial man-made waters and associated structures. Where natural water bodies are used as reservoirs, these fall under inland waters.

One Executive summary

One point two Policy relevance

One point three Data and analytical approaches

One point four point one. Standing water habitats

One point four point two. Running waters habitats

One point four point three. Conclusions

Two. Introduction

Two point two. Description of the revision process for EUNIS inland surface water habitats

Two point three Challenges met for the revision of structure

Two point four The principles used for the revision of EUNIS inland surface water habitats.

Two point five Objectives of the report.

Two point six Scope of the report.

Two point seven The revised EUNIS habitat types at level three for standing waters and running waters.

Two point eight Application of EUNIS inland waters classification for various policies.

Two point nine Links between the revised inland surface water habitats and other water-related EUNIS L one groups

Two point nine point one EUNIS group U: Inland habitats with little or no soil and mostly sparse vegetation

Two point nine point two EUNIS group Q: Wetlands

Two point nine point three EUNIS group Z: Habitat complexes

Two point nine point four EUNIS group Y: Artificial inland standing and running water systems

Three Data and approach used to describe biological communities in inland surface waters

Three point two Challenges

Three point three. Data sources

Three point four. Dividing the data into reference and impacted water bodies

Three point four point two Standing waters

Three point four point three Running waters

a) Standing waters lakes

Phytoplankton

b) Running waters rivers

Three point five Geographical coverage

Three point six Data selection criteria

Three point seven Multivariate analysis of biological communities

Three point eight Calculation of species richness per habitat type

Three point nine Identification of characteristics diagnostic, common constant and dominant taxa

Three point nine point one. Characteristics (diagnostic) species

Three point nine point two. Common (constant) species

Three point nine point three Dominant species

Three point ten Approach used for very large lakes and very large rivers

Three point eleven Data gaps and approaches used to cover them

Three point thirteen Level three descriptions of the effect of flow and biology in rivers

Four Results for biology in standing waters

Four point one Similarity analysis of species composition in different L three habitats

Four point one point one Phytoplankton

Phytoplankton

Four point one point two Aquatic vegetation

Aquatic vegetation

Four point two Species richness per habitat type for phytoplankton, aquatic vegetation and fish.

Four point three point one. Phytoplankton communities

Differences between reference and impacted standing water habitats

Differences between calcareous versus siliceous standing water habitats in reference or good condition

Differences between low-, mid-altitude and highland standing water habitats in reference or good conditions

Differences between clear versus humic standing water habitats in reference or good conditions

Permanent saline and brackish standing water habitats

Permanent ponds and pools

Four point three point two Zooplankton communities

Four point three point three Aquatic vegetation communities

Differences between reference and impacted standing water habitats

Differences between calcareous and siliceous standing water habitats in reference or good condition

Differences between low-, mid-altitude, highland standing water habitats in reference or good condition

Differences between clear versus humic standing water habitats in reference or good condition

Four point three point four Fish communities

Differences in species composition in clear versus humic standing water habitats in reference or good condition

Differences between reference and impacted standing water habitats

Five. Results for biology in running waters

Five point one Similarity analysis of species composition in different L thirteen habitats

Five point one point one Benthic algae The results (

Aquatic vegetation

Five point one point three Benthic invertebrates

Five point one point four Fish

Benthic invertebrates

Overview

The report revises the EUNIS classification of inland water habitats, enhancing the understanding of biological communities and species richness in various aquatic environments across Europe. It provides critical insights for policy-making regarding the EU Water Framework Directive and biodiversity conservation.

Key Points

1The report revises the inland water habitats under the EUNIS classification
2It includes assessments of biological communities and species richness in reference and impacted water bodies
3Key habitat types are highlighted for conservation and policy relevance
4The study addresses the ecological status as per the EU Water Framework Directive
5Regional differences in biodiversity among habitats are considered in the assessment.

Details

Authors: Anne Lyche Solheim, Petra Thea Mutinova, Tor Erik Eriksen, Ute Jandt
Category: Environmental Studies

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