Monitoring the Responses of Freshwater Ecosystems to Climate Change - Climate Change Impacts on Freshwater Ecosystems - page 96

Table 5.2 ( Cont'd )

Category Response Indicator Justification of indicator c t w

Increase of
eutrophicating
substances

N flux in the runoff and
decomposition of soil
organic matter increases
with temperature, which
increases nutrient
concentrations.
Eutrophication is further
promoted by high water
retention time through low
discharge, while
denitrification counteracts
this effect.

Nitrate, total N,
phosphate

Nutrients are routinely
monitored in most
European countries.

x x x

Physicochemistry

Reduced water
quality

Increasing water
temperatures enhance
production and
decomposition intensity,
thus leading to oxygen
depletion, particularly at
night.

Saprobic indices Saprobic indices reflect

the organic load in
streams and eventually
the oxygen content.
Species with a high
oxygen demand (typical
for low saprobic indices)
will disappear while
species with a low oxygen
demand (typical for high
saprobic indices) will
benefit.

(x) x x