Assessing the condition of the Missouri, Ohio, and Upper Mississippi rivers (USA) using diatom-based indicators

作者：Kireta Amy R^*; Reavie Euan D; Sgro Gerald V; Angradi Ted R; Bolgrien David W; Jicha Terri M; Hill Brian H

来源：Hydrobiologia, 2012, 691(1): 171-188.

DOI：10.1007/s10750-012-1067-3

• Diatoms
• Great rivers
• Monitoring
• Transfer functions

Diatom-based indicators were developed to assess environmental conditions in the Missouri, Ohio, and Upper Mississippi rivers. Disturbance gradients, comprising the first two principal components derived from a suite of stressor variables, included a trophic gradient (Trophic) and a gradient reflecting agriculture and other development activities (Ag/Dev). Diatom-based indicators were developed by creating models using weighted average calibration and regression-based transfer functions to relate planktonic and periphytic diatom species assemblages to each disturbance gradient. The most predictive disturbance models combined phytoplankton and periphyton assemblages into a single bioindicator model (observed versus inferred: Trophic ; Ag/Dev ). The geographic applicability of bioindicators was assessed by limiting sample geographical range during model calibrations. Geographic scale was limited by creating bioindicators using samples from: (a) each river, and (b) combined Mississippi/Missouri samples excluding Ohio River sites which were chemically unique. Indicator performance decreased with geographically restrictive models, therefore river basin-wide models, developed across all three rivers, is recommended. The most effective diatom-based disturbance bioindicators for this great river ecosystem could be applied using phytoplankton, periphyton, or combined assemblages to infer both trophic and agriculture/development disturbances.

• 出版日期2012-7