Project Page Views: [ 674 ]
| Project Metadata Element | Details |
| Project Title | Biological Quality Element validation for Tidal Freshwater Transitional Waters in Ireland |
| Research Area | Water |
| Project Acronym | STRIVE - Project Based Awards |
| Principal Investigator or Lead Irish Partner | James Wilson |
| Lead Institution or Organisation | University of Dublin, Trinity College (TCD) |
| Lead Country | Ireland |
| Latitude, Longitude (of Lead Institution) | 53.34449, -6.25867 |
| Lead Funding Entity | Environmental Protection Agency |
| Approximate Project Start Date | 17/03/2014 |
| Approximate Project Finishing Date | 17/07/2016 |
| Project Website (if any) | https://www.tcd.ie/ |
| Links to other Web-based resources | |
| Project Keywords | Water Framework Directive; Assessment; Freshwater; TFTW's |
| Project Abstract | The absence of appropriate biological assessment methods for tidal freshwater zones is one of the main gaps in satisfying the requirements of the EU WFD and for sustainable development of TFTWs. The ecological assessment methods for rivers and brackish transitional waters have not been fully tested in TFTWs. The aim of this project is to validate the biological quality elements for TWs (WFD Annex V, namely phytoplankton, macroalgae, angiosperms, benthic invertebrates and fish) and to test other possible candidate BQEs (e.g. invasive species) for assessment of TFTWs. The project will review biological assessment methods used in the ecological assessment of TFTWs and test the current BQEs across a range of TFTWs in Ireland. From these, recommendations will be made as to their consistency with the normative definitions (Annex V) and as to which should be incorporated into a suite of biological assessment methods to assess the ecological status of TFTWs. The project will run for 28 months and will draw on a range of expertise from within TCD and external consultants. Stakeholders will be informed of the progress and outcomes through the website, a range of reports and a final briefing workshop. |