Integrative Evaluation of the Ecological Quality of Metalliferous Streams (Chalkidiki, Macedonia, Hellas)

• Published in: Environmental monitoring and assessment Vol. 91; no. 1-3; pp. 59 - 86
• Main Authors: Lazaridou-Dimitriadou, M., Koukoumides, C., Lekka, E., Gaidagis, G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrect Springer 01.02.2004; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Applied ecology; Assessments; Bioaccumulation; Biological and medical sciences; Classification; Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife; Crustaceans; Ecology; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Environmental degradation: ecosystems survey and restoration; Environmental Monitoring; Fishes; Fresh water environment; Freshwater; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fuzzy; Greece; High flow; Invertebrata; Invertebrates; Macroinvertebrates; Metal concentrations; Metals, Heavy - analysis; Organic loading; Physicochemical properties; Population Dynamics; Quality Control; Sampling; Statistical methods; Streams; Trace metals; Water Pollutants - analysis; Water quality; Europe; Macedonia; Greece; Greece, Macedonia, Chalkidiki; Greece, Kentriki Makedonia, Chalkidiki; Greece, Kentriki Macedonia, Former Yugoslav Republic, Chalkidiki; Macedonia, Former Yugoslav Republic; Benthic organism; Fauna; heavy metals; Biological indicator; Bioavailability; benthic macroinvertebrates; Biological monitoring; Heavy metal; Freshwater environment; Crustacea; Statistical method; Vertebrata; biotic indices; Macrofauna; Arthropoda; Pisces; Water quality; Stream; Water pollution; Invertebrata
• ISSN: 0167-6369; 1573-2959
• DOI: 10.1023/B:EMAS.0000009230.24795.01

The present study reports on a year-long (November 1997-November 1998) study of water quality in streams of the Olympias and Skouries areas of Chalkidiki (Hellas), subject to past and present mining activities. Benthic macroinvertebrates were collected from 18 sampling sites at five sampling intervals, while several physicochemical parameters of the water (D.O., pH, temperature, nutrients etc.) were also measured. Five European biotic indices and scores and two multivariate statistical methods (CANOCO, FUZZY) were applied to the macroinvertebrate data. The concentration of various trace metals in the water, sediment, fish and crustaceans were also measured. Most sampling stations exhibited a highly diverse macroinvertebrate fauna during the whole year. However, a slight amelioration of water quality was observed during the high-flow period (winter and early spring), regarding diversity of several invertebrate groups, especially pollution-sensitive families, which decreased. The European biotic indices and scores proved to be relatively ineffective in describing water quality and it is suggested that an Hellenic biotic indice or score should be created. The bioaccumulation studies indicated variable effects of trace metals and organic load on macroinvertebrates according to the degree of load.