Description
The objective of the proposed project is to extend the existing system of surface waters monitoring and the related public information system IS ARROW with a module for monitoring long-term changes in diversity of significant components of the biota of surface flowing waters in nature-close conditions. Monitoring of long-term changes is proposed to be carried out in a network of segments of watercourses showing minimum anthropogenic impacts, while using data obtained in “reference locations” in the past. Those data will serve as the baseline for the evaluation of changes in biological diversity. The primary activities of the project include designing the network for monitoring of long-term changes in biological diversity in watercourses in the Czech Republic. Another important objective is to design and implement an innovative method of evaluation, interpretation and presentation of newly obtained data in the context of historical data. A system will also be designed for future monitoring with ten-year periodicity, i.e. in a cycle that approximates the solar cycle influencing the climate.
Summary of project results
The purpose of the project was extension of the existing system of surface waters monitoring and the related information system ARROW. The impacts of climate change are generally easier to detect at places where they are minimally affected by human activities and where they can be compared with older data. Such monitoring requires new procedures to assess the extent of the impact of climate change. Therefore, a system for monitoring and assessing biodiversity and the state of the minimally affected flow sections has been designed and developed. The system works as a platform for evaluation of historical and recent data and will be used for future data which can objectively evaluate changes over a longer period of time. Most project activities aimed at obtaining data (field and laboratory activities, compilation of sets of data). Evaluation of the data has resulted into a methodology, which served as a base of assessment module and a presentation portal above the IS ARROW. This allows evaluation of multilateral data and easier access to a long-term monitoring. Within this main project output, the data and results of analyzes are presented in tabular and graphical forms as well as via maps. For public (as a part of the project’s target group), the general results have been summarized while the results provided to the state administration and other institutions have been commented on by the experts following areas of their interests (changes in water status for water management, biodiversity change for nature conservation, information on localities for municipalities). For field of interest connected to science and research, the possibilities to enter own query concerning data analyzes directed to publication outputs was defined within the system as well. A registration for users of this type is necessary. In general terms, the main project’s result serves for evaluation of the stability of conditions for water planning purposes. The publicity of the project was realized via project websites and distribution of brochures informing about the project. Two expert seminars (opening and closing) took place in the project implementation period.
Summary of bilateral results