Benthic algae assessments in the EU and the US: Striving for consistency in the face of great ecological diversity

Freshwaters face multiple environmental problems including eutrophication, acidification, salinization, and climate-change, all of which can lead to impairment of ecosystem structure and function. Furthermore, these stressors often act in combination. Benthic algal-based assessments to quantify impairment are used in both the EU and US. In this review, we use case studies, experience, and the literature to compare concepts, approaches, and methods between the EU and US to offer an updated picture of benthic algal-based assessments. Both the US and EU are composed of numerous constituent states having considerable flexibility to adopt individual methods. The goal of this work is to synthesize the various approaches that are used across the EU and US. Specifically, we compare and contrast benthic algal assessment performed in response to core legislation – the Water Framework Directive in the EU and the Clean Water Act in the US, with a particular focus on the steps taken to ensure consistency at different stages of the process. This includes consideration of approaches to sampling design and field methods, taxonomic resolution and laboratory harmonization, metric selection and choice of algal groups, assessment of stressors and stressor/response relationships. A number of commonalities emerged during this process, particularly the focus on diatoms over other algal groups. However, there are also a number of key differences, including more widespread use of multimetric indices in the US compared with the EU. Finally, we consider emerging opportunities, including the potential for using metagenomic approaches for bioassessment in the future

Effect of glyphosate (Roundup® formulation) on microphytobenthic communities of the Gulf of Gdańsk - new report

The experiments testing the toxicity of glyphosate Roundup® formulation were conducted on the natural microphytobenthic communities collected from the Gulf of Gdansk. The toxic effect of glyphosate was assessed by changes in the biomass of microphytobenthos cells [mm3 ∙ ml-1], chlorophyll a concentration and reduction of efficiency of photosystem II. Negative impact of glyphosate on microphytobenthic communities, both at the cellular and population scale, was determined. Hence it can be concluded that certain concentrations of the herbicide Roundup (glyphosate – active substance), in the marine environment may adversely impact natural microphytobenthic communities, and in consequence also other elements of the ecosystem

Rare and new small-celled taxa of Navicula s. str. in the Gulf of Gdansk and in its freshwater affluents

AbstractPresented are results of morphological (LM and SEM) and taxonomical investigations on very small-sized Navicula spp. from the brackish waters of the Gulf of Gdansk and some freshwater affluents. Detailed studies revealed that most of the taxa in question are either new for science or previously described but rather poorly known. Dominant in that assemblage of extraordinarily small-celled Navicula species, specimens mostly below 10 μm in length, are Navicula germanopolonica Witkowski & Lange-Bertalot and Navicula paulschulzii Witkowski & Lange-Bertalot as established taxa. New for science are Navicula aleksandrae, Navicula bozenae and Navicula viminoides ssp. cosmomarina. From common freshwater habitats no species are known that could be confused with the new taxa

Benthic diatoms of the Vistula River estuary (Northern Poland): Seasonality, substrata preferences, and the influence of water chemistry

Seasonal studies of water bodies in separate branches of the Vistula River estuary in Northern Poland were conducted over 30 months from May 2005 to October 2007. Diatom samples were collected from different substrata from two sites located in the river mouth, which has physical characteristics as a result of a complex interplay of natural and human influences that have taken place over the last 100+ years. The diatom flora growing on hard surfaces near the river banks such as sand, muddy sand, rocks, macroscopic green algae and/or vascular aquatic plants was recorded. All diatom taxa collected were distinguished based on their morphological features using light (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A total of 187 species belonging to 61 genera were identified. A canonical correspondence analysis indicated that the diatom assemblages were definitely associated with salinity as well as nutrient concentrations and substratum type. During the study, malformations of diatom valves were observed in 48% of the microphytobenthos samples. Abnormal outline morphology and ornamentation deformities in several individuals of nine different species were recorded, which were mainly in epilithic and epiphytic communities collected from spring to autumn. © 2012 Japanese Society of Phycology