environmental.legislation_state.assesment Flashcards
what are the two european environmental directives ?
WFD and MSFD
what does WFD stand for? when was it esatblished
water framework directive
in 2000
what does MSFD stand for?
marine strategy framework directive
what are the two main fundamental principles of WFD?
- ecosystem based managemnet
- polluter must pay principle
what is the “ecosystem approach”?
=frameworks for resolving ecosystem issues
=strategy for the integrated management of water,land and living resources that promotes conversation and sustainbale use in an equitabel way.
what is eosystem managemnt ?
= a process that aims to coserve major ecological services and restore natural ressource while including needs of current and future generations.
what directives ar included in the WFD?
- nitrates directive
- habitats directive
- gorundwater directive
-drinking water directive
-birds directive
etc.
what are the 2 most relevant key obejctives/aims of the WFD?
- achieve concnetrations in the marine environemnt nearbackground values for naturall occuring substances and close to zero for man-made synthteic subtances
- -> chemical state - ) prevent a further destruction and protect and enhance the status of equatic ecosystem.
- -> ecosystem/ecological state
on what is the chemical state evaluated of an area evaluated?
on basis of indicator concentration relative to the natural background (-indicator threshhold values )
on what is the ecological state of an area evaluated?
on basisi fo the ecosystem function, which should not be too different from the function of the natural background.
The WFD chemical state differentiates between tow types of substances
man-made synthetics vs. naturally occuring substances.
what are EQS variables?
environmental quality standards variables
= envrionmental varibales which are used as indicators,
–> reflect chemical conditions/chemical state of the ecosystem
how is ecolgical state assessed?
assessd through 5 categories
what are the categories fo the ecological state?
5:
1. high(=blue)
2. good(=green)
2. moderate (yellow)
4. poor (=orange)
5. bad (=red)
what categories of ecological states represent acceptable ecological condition which represent condition, which need action/changes to achieve an acceptable status?
high, good = acceptable
moderate, poor, bad= action needed
what are the general water definitions for the ecological status category:
high
values reflect those normally associated with that water type under undistubred conditions.
what are the general definitions for the ecological status category:
good
values show low levels of distortion, resulting from human activity,
–>slightly deviation
what are the general definitions for the ecological status category:
moderate
values show moderate sign of distortion resultig from human activity
what are the general definitions for the ecological status category:
poor
water shows major alterations/Change
what are the general definitions for the ecological status category:
bad
water shows severe alterations/change
what reflects the ecologcial state and how is it assessed?
reflects the functioning of the ecosystem:
–> influence of AQC on seaflooo and surface coastal water
what has been used to asses AQC influence on the seafloor?
diversity of small invertebrates
B-, C- assessments
what has been used to asses AQC influence on surface coastal waters?
there are no well accepted indicators, but three methods:
- OSPARCOM indicators
- Dose-response functions
- N:P, N:C and P:C ratios of particulate matter (C:N:P ratios)
what does the OSPARCOM indicator measure?
- clorophyll a–> chlorophyll a threshold
- DIN and DIP concentrations
what is measured for the dose response function?
PON/POP versus nutreint loading rate
what is the better indicator?
- OSPARCOM or dose response function?
dose response function.
DIN (OSPARCOM) does not relate to an increased nutrient input
PON/POP does relate to an increased nutrinet inpu(increases also)
how do phytlankton and zooplankton respond to increasing nutrient rate?
how does the ratio between Phytolankton and zooplankton change?
Zooplankton responds slower than phytoplankton.
–> food web structure is change
phytoplankton increases –> ratio chnages
rate= indicator
what ar the ecosystem health components ?
- vigour=vitality (function)
- organization
- resistance (to disturbance)
- resilience (widerstandsfähigkiet)
what are the chemical state indicators (=EQS variables)?
3
- NO3 (nitrat)
- NH4 (ammonium)
- PO4 (phophat)
what are the ecological state indicators?
7
chlorophyll a PON POP C:N C:P N:P phytplankton:zooplanktan
what has to happen when -values exceed the EQS threshhold
-ecological state is lower than moderate
countermeasures are required.
