The European Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) aims for good status of aquatic ecosystems. In Italy, the Lake Fish Index (LFI) has been proposed as a possible tool for monitoring the ecological status of the lakes, using fish fauna as biological quality element. In the present study, the earlier version of the LFI was applied for the first time in Umbria, concerning its most important natural lake: the lake Trasimeno. Samples were conducted with nets composed of multiple panels of different mesh size, in 60 sampling station randomly selected. For each fish captured (n=9773), length and weight were measured and a sample of scales was taken for age determination. The LFI method, composed of 5 parameters based on the presence and quantity of given species, population structure, reproductive success and non-native species, was applied. The value of the index resulted 0.59, corresponding to a moderate ecological status. This analysis provided an overall judgment on the ecological status of the Lake Trasimeno and allowed to experience the reliability of the method. However this preliminary study raised some critical issues, demonstrating the need of a more accurate validation for the utilization of LFI as the indicator of the ecological status of lakes in Italy.
Prima applicazione del lake fish index (LFI) nel lago Trasimeno
Pompei L.;Barocco Raffaele;Carosi A.;Forconi A.;Giannetto D.;Lorenzoni M.
2015
Abstract
The European Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) aims for good status of aquatic ecosystems. In Italy, the Lake Fish Index (LFI) has been proposed as a possible tool for monitoring the ecological status of the lakes, using fish fauna as biological quality element. In the present study, the earlier version of the LFI was applied for the first time in Umbria, concerning its most important natural lake: the lake Trasimeno. Samples were conducted with nets composed of multiple panels of different mesh size, in 60 sampling station randomly selected. For each fish captured (n=9773), length and weight were measured and a sample of scales was taken for age determination. The LFI method, composed of 5 parameters based on the presence and quantity of given species, population structure, reproductive success and non-native species, was applied. The value of the index resulted 0.59, corresponding to a moderate ecological status. This analysis provided an overall judgment on the ecological status of the Lake Trasimeno and allowed to experience the reliability of the method. However this preliminary study raised some critical issues, demonstrating the need of a more accurate validation for the utilization of LFI as the indicator of the ecological status of lakes in Italy.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
