Report on Harmonisation of freshwater biological methods

Hungary58. Since 2002 a modification of the British BMWP-ASPT score system is appliedfeaturing newly included taxa and modified scores. Combination of total score andaverage score per taxon results in an index value, which is assigned to one of fiveclasses of watercourse quality. The method is in preliminary phase and practicalexperience and taxonomic expertise are advancing.Ireland59. The Quality Rating System used in Ireland relates the relative abundance of fivekey groups of benthic invertebrates to water quality. In each group taxa of similarsensitivity (mainly to organic pollution) are integrated. The index is based primarilyon individuals identified to family level. Additionally, the British BMWP system areapplied in Northern Ireland. BMWP includes ASPT.Italy60. The IBE is based on the Extended Biotic Index according to (Woodiwiss, 1978)and is a standard method for assessing Italian watercourses. For determination of theIBE value two factors are considered: taxa richness (diversity) and presence ofsensitive taxa (indicator groups). Calculation is performed with a cross-table. Theresulting index reaches values between 0 and 14, the highest number indicating thebest water quality.Latvia61. The standardised Operative Evaluation of the Biological Quality of Small Streamsis used for biological quality control of small streams with a flow velocity more than0,1 m/s. The Saprobic Index is calculated according to Zelinka and Marvan (1961)and the results are assigned to one of five quality classes. Water quality evaluation oflarger streams in Latvia is done by the Saprobic Assessment of River Water Qualitybased on hydrobiological indicators.Liechtenstein62. The Austrian method Assessment of saprobiological quality of rivers is used inLiechtenstein to assess the impact of organic pollution on streams. The modularstructure of this method allows different procedures to be chosen for specific purposes80