HeLM: a macrophyte-based method for monitoring and assessment of Greek lakes.

ABSTRACT: The Water Framework Directive (WFD) requires Member States to develop appropriate assessment methods for the classification of the ecological status of their surface waters. Mediterranean region has lagged behind in this task, so we propose here the first developed method for Greek lakes, Hellenic Lake Macrophyte (HeLM) assessment method. This method is based on two metrics, a modified trophic index and maximum colonization depth C_max that quantify the degree of changes in lake macrophytic vegetation, as a response to eutrophication and general degradation pressures. The method was developed on the basis of a data set sampled from 272 monitoring transects in 16 Greek lakes. Sites from three lakes were selected as potential reference sites by using a screening process. Ecological

SUBMITTER: Zervas D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5937868 | biostudies-literature | 2018 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature