Selection of an indicator to assess a highly modified saline ecosystem

Abstract

[EN] The Water Framework Directive (WFD, 2000/60/EC) determines that all water bodies must achieve a good eco-logical status. The solar salterns system of Mata-Torrevieja (Spain) has been designated as Heavily ModifiedWater Bodies (HMWB). This ecosystem is a transitional water body (TW) largely conditioned by socio-economic managementplan and the related human activities that takeplace. Thus, WFD establishesas obligatorythe determination of their ecological potential, and not their ecological status. In order to define the ecologicalpotential, it is necessary to determine previously the chemical and biological conditions of the water body.This paper is focused on the analysis of physical-chemical parameters of a saltern system during 2008¿2016, inorder to establish a starting point for the implementation process of the WFD in this type of ecosystem (TW-HMWB). The behavior of salinity and physical-chemical parameters (temperature, pH, nutrients) has been stud-ied. Salinity was the most relevant parameter studied to define pressures for these water bodies. However, totalphosphorus turned out to be a good potential status indicator. It would be one of the most suitable chemical pa-rameters to propose a methodology for the determination of the ecological potential in the salterns.