Resources

Phytoplankton form the base of many food webs in lakes. This method uses the principle that an increase in nutrients (particularly phosphorus) leads to an increase in phytoplankton biomass and a change in the taxonomic composition, often leading to an increased occurrence of cyanobacteria (blue-green algae).

Publication Date: 
03-July-2014
Advisory Group: 
UKTAG
Macrophytes provide habitats for fish and smaller animals, they bind sediments, protect banks and absorb nutrients. Macrophytes can indicate the impact of increased nutrients in rivers and are also influenced by other pressures such as channel engineering, water abstraction, flow impoundment or acidification. The types and amount of macrophytes present in a river can tell us how well that river is working.  
 
Publication Date: 
02-July-2014
Advisory Group: 
UKTAG

Dogwhelks are a good indicator of the contamination of the hazardous substance called tributyltin (TBT) which used to be used in anti-fouling paints on the hulls of large ships.

Publication Date: 
23-April-2014
Advisory Group: 
UKTAG

Saltmarshes hold great ecological value due to their range of associated plants and animals. The diversity of flora and fauna reflects the interactions between the marine and terrestrial environment.

Publication Date: 
23-April-2014
Advisory Group: 
UKTAG

Phytoplankton utilise sunlight energy and dissolved nutrients converting these into organic materials which are often consumed by higher life forms such as fish.

Publication Date: 
23-April-2014
Advisory Group: 
UKTAG

Macroalgae are good indicators of general pressures including, toxic substances and disturbance. They are ideally suited to monitoring as many are large, widespread and relatively easily identified.

Publication Date: 
23-April-2014
Advisory Group: 
UKTAG

Phytoplankton utilise sunlight energy and dissolved nutrients converting these into organic materials which are often consumed by higher life forms such as fish.

Publication Date: 
23-April-2014
Advisory Group: 
UKTAG

Opportunistic macroalgae are able to utilise excess nitrogen in the environment and outcompete other seaweed species. They are easy to identify and sample so are good for monitoring the effects of nutrient enrichment.

Publication Date: 
23-April-2014
Advisory Group: 
UKTAG

This method has been designed primarily to detect the impact of toxic substances on the distribution of certain species of macroalgae (seaweeds belonging to the group known as 'wracks', and principally members of the genus 'Fucus'').  This method monitors the upstream limit of t

Publication Date: 
23-April-2014
Advisory Group: 
UKTAG

Benthic invertebrate communities are good indicators of organic pollution and are also sensitive to toxic pollutants. They are ideally suited to biological monitoring as they are sedentary and either feed upon sediment dwelling animals or the sediment .

Publication Date: 
23-April-2014
Advisory Group: 
UKTAG

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