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Objectives
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The Water Framework Directive (WFD) required that all water masses have to be classified with the minimum of Good until 2016. Therefore, the WFD over the next few years imply considerable effort in the conservation and restoration of river reaches based upon the reliable classification of water bodies. This implies an increasing need for detailed scientific information on near-natural river. ICCE scientific team is involved in a research project, “Evaluation of the ecological status of Algarve streams “, that overall aims to assess the quality status of Algarve (South Portugal) surface water bodies. This work will contribute to increase the knowledge regarding pressures variables that most affect aquatic life forms spatio-temporal variability and base on results develop mitigation plans. Benthic macroinvertebrates have been used in this project as indicators of water quality in river management, because, apart from any other advantages, over using other organisms, they are affected not only by natural changes in the rivers but also by chemical and physical factors induced by human activities.
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