Líffræðifélag Íslands - biologia.is
Líffræðiráðstefnan 2025
Erindi/veggspjald / Talk/poster V88
Höfundar / Authors: Hildur Magnúsdóttir (1), Rakel Guðmundsdóttir (1), Þóra Hrafnsdóttir (2), Svanhildur Egilsdóttir (1), Hrönn G. Guðmundsdóttir (1) og Eydís Salome Eiríksdóttir (1)
Starfsvettvangur / Affiliations: 1. Hafrannsóknastofnun, 2. Náttúrufræðistofnun
Kynnir / Presenter: Hildur Magnúsdóttir
Increased land use due to agriculture, industry and human population growth in the Anthropocene has had a profound impact on the marine environment. Destruction of seagrass communities, harmful algal blooms, increased hypoxia in deeper waters, and declines in harvested species, are a few of the problems that marine ecosystems face. Coastal ecosystems are considerably affected due to their proximity to the pollution, and need to be protected and monitored. To ensure sustainable management of aquatic environments the European Water Framework Directive was established in 2000. According to the WFD, all waterbodies should achieve good ecological and chemical status based on certain biological, physio-chemical, hydromorphological and chemical quality elements. In Iceland, the Water Management Act (36/2011) and Regulation 535/2011 have been implemented and classification of coastal water bodies around the country is ongoing. Here we present ecological classification elements and quality parameters that have been developed by research institutes in Iceland for monitoring of coastal waterbodies. Biological quality elements currently utilised are phytoplankton biomass (chlorophyll a), soft bottom invertebrates (diversity index NQI1) and hard bottom macroalgae (community composition), and the physiochemical quality element of winter nutrient (NO3,PO4) concentration. Furthermore, hydromorphological quality elements for Icelandic coastal waters are being developed.