2026-06-09T17:43:21+02:00 https://library.wur.nl/oai

oai:library.wur.nl:wurpubs/417396 2026-04-02

urn:nbn:nl:ui:32-417396 2026-04-02 urn:nbn:nl:ui:32-417396/mods Development of a multimetric index based on macroinvertebrates for drainage ditch networks in agricultural areas. Verdonschot R.C.M. 332776883 0000-0002-0977-5975 0000000396310961 aut Keizer-Vlek H.E. 251884449 0000000395016760 aut Verdonschot P.F.M. 073342424 0000-0002-4126-7452 0000000034176021 aut text info:eu-repo/semantics/article 2012 10.1016/j.ecolind.2011.06.007 2-s2.0-80053267910 000296042500026 en Drainage ditches are a prominent feature of many intensively managed agricultural areas. These small, shallow, line-shaped waterbodies could harbor a rich macroinvertebrate community, resembling that of natural small lentic ecosystems. Despite their high biodiversity potential, many ditch ecosystems are degraded due to nutrient enrichment, resulting in a shift from a mesotrophic system characterized by a diverse vegetation of emergent-, submerged-, and floating macrophytes to a hypertrophic state dominated by Lemnaceae or phytoplankton. Tools to assess the ecological quality of drainage ditches are currently lacking. Therefore, a multimetric index based on macroinvertebrates was developed to assess the ecological quality of drainage ditch systems in The Netherlands. Based on a large dataset from regional water district managers, who conduct routine sampling of macroinvertebrates in drainage ditches, a degradation gradient composed of 223 samples was derived, which represented the combined stressors eutrophication, organic pollution and salinity. We used a stepwise process to evaluate the discriminatory efficiency of a variety of diversity, abundance/composition, tolerance/sensitivity, and functional metrics for assessing ecological degradation in drainage ditches. After evaluating metric range, strength of correlation to the stressor gradient, degree of redundancy, and sample- and seasonal repeatability, five metrics were selected for the drainage ditch multimetric index: number of Trichoptera families, percentage of Gastropoda families, percentage of taxa preferring fresh water (Cl- <300 mg L-1), Dutch Saprobic index, and the percentage of predator taxa. The relationship of these single metrics with the stressor gradient is discussed. Wageningen Environmental Research CE - Freshwater Ecosystems benthic macroinvertebrates biodiversity community conservation diversity eutrophication integrity macrophytes ponds streams Wageningen Environmental Research CE - Freshwater Ecosystemen Ecological Indicators 13 1 232 242 1470160X urn:nbn:nl:ui:32-417396/obj 2026-04-02 http://purl.org/eprint/accessRights/RestrictedAccess