Nutrient enrichment/eutrophication may give rise to shift in phytoplankton species and increased biomass, increased frequency, magnitude and duration of phytoplankton blooms and/or of nuisance or potentially toxic blooms.
The monitoring is carried out in accordance with the OSPAR Eutrophication Strategy (2003) taking into account the specific conditions of the Wadden Sea area (van Beusekom et al. 2001 &2005).
The Wadden Sea is effected by nutrient inputs from rivers (mainly from Rhine/IJssel, Ems, Weser and Elbe), atmosphere (N compounds) and North Sea waters (due to the residual long-shore current). Nutrients. Together with organic compounds, which are retained in the Wadden Sea it may result in eutrophication.
Trilateral policy and management aims “to achieve, as far as possible, a natural and sustainable ecosystem in which natural processes proceed in an undisturbed way” (Guiding Principle).
With respect to the “Quality of Water and Sediment” the following Target applies to nutrients (Wadden Sea Plan):
The monitoring of phytoplankton is carried out to assess the effects of changes in input of nutrients on
WSP
Wadden Sea Plan: Targets on “Quality of Water and Sediment”
HD
None
WFD
Article 8 chapter 1.ii: Monitoring of surface waters: the ecological and chemical status and ecological potential
Annex V: 1.2.3 (transitional waters), 1.2.4 (coastal waters), 1.2.5 (heavily modified or artificial water bodies): Biological quality element: Phytoplankton.
OSPAR
OSPAR Eutrophication Strategy: In accordance with the general objective, OSPAR’s objective with regard to eutrophication is to combat eutrophication in the OSPAR maritime area, in order to achieve and maintain a healthy marine environment where eutrophication does not occur.
Common Procedure for the Identification of the Eutrophication Status of the OSPAR Maritime Area (Ref. No. 2005-3). Assessment Parameter Category II: Direct effects of nutrient enrichment: Chlorophyll a concentration. Phytoplankton indicator species.
EcoQO Issue 9.1: Eutrophication status of the North Sea: EcoQO 9.1.2 Phytoplankton chlorophyll a. EcoQO 9.1.3 Phytoplankton indicator species for eutrophication.
OSPAR categories of maritime waters
Problem areas with regard to eutrophication are defined as “those areas for which there is evidence of an undesirable disturbance to the marine ecosystem due to anthropogenic enrichment by nutrients”. This means that these areas show an increased degree of nutrient enrichment accompanied by direct and/or indirect or other possible eutrophication effects.
Potential problem areas with regard to eutrophication are defined as “those areas for which there are reasonable grounds for concern that the anthropogenic contribution of nutrients may be causing or may lead in time to an undesirable disturbance to the marine ecosystem due to elevated levels, trends and/or fluxes in such nutrients”. This means that these areas show an increased degree of nutrient enrichment, but that data are not sufficient, or not fit for the purpose, for assessing direct, indirect or other possible eutrophication effects.
Non-problem areas with regard to eutrophication are defined as “those areas for which there are no grounds for concern that anthropogenic enrichment by nutrients has disturbed or may in the future disturb the marine ecosystem.”
The TMAP approach has been based on the OSPAR strategy which is currently tuned with the WFD (EMMA activities, GIC Guidance on eutrophication). The Wadden Sea is still regarded as “eutrophication problem area” under OSPAR. It is likely that the “good ecological status” under the WFD will not be reached until 2015 because of high nutrient inputs.
Information basis for trilateral assessment are national monitoring programs which have been established under OSPAR and the WFD. These can be regarded as sufficient to assess the eutrophication status and the Target implementation (see Tab. 1).
(Table 5.1) Parameters with monitoring locations and frequencies and the relation to the other monitoring requirements.
| Parameters | Description | Location | Frequency | Method | WFD | BD/HD | OSPAR | OTHER | Remark |
| Mandatory TMAP parameters | |||||||||
| Chlorophyll a | Chl-a | 1-6 stations per region | 1/week - 1/month | X | - | X | - | - | |
| Phytoplankton | Species composition, abundance | 1-6 stations per region | 1/week - 1/month | X | - | X | - | - |
Remarks:
* Number of stations per region depends on number of WFD water body typed to be covered. Regions: NL, Nds/HH, S-H, DK
5.1 Parameters
5.2 Monitoring locations
The sampling station of existing monitoring programs should be kept. Additional sampling may be performed from the shore (pier, jetty) in selected tidal basins.
For each of the four region (The Netherlands, Niedersachsen/Hamburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Dennmark), at least one sampling location per WFD water body type should be established as appropriate. The existing time series should be continued.
[to be included: Figure 1: QSR subareas, with existing monitoring stations]
The OSPAR „JAMP eutrophication monitoring guidelines: Chlorophyll a in water” and „JAMP eutrophication monitoring guidelines: Phytoplankton species composition” are also valid within the TMAP. For co-variables, standard methods should be followed for the determination of oxygen, pH, suspended matter, turbidity, temperature, salinity (see respective JAMP guidelines).
Sampling method
Analytical procedures
The abundance of key species should be examined. The key species are dominant and/or nuisance and/or potentially toxic species. For example: Alexandrium spp. (Gonyaulax) Ceratium spp, Chrysochromulina polylepis, Corymbellus aureus, Coscinodiscus wailesii, Dinophysis acuminata, Gymnodinium catenatum, Gyrodinium aureolum, Lepidodinium viride, Noctiluca scintillans, Phaeocystis spp. Prorocentrum balticum, Prorocentrum minimum, Prymnesium pavum, Pseudonitzschia spp.
Attempts should be made to establish the overall species composition.
The counting procedure should be based on the proposal of ICES (1996).
(see also JAMP guidelines for monitoring of phytoplankton species composition, OSPAR 1997a)
For analysis of chlorophyll a, see JAMP guidelines for monitoring of chlorophyll a in water (OSPAR 1997a).
For details see [Table 5.1].
OSPAR has developed a set of common assessment parameters and their corresponding area-specific assessment levels to complement the Common Procedure.
In the WFD, a CIS guidance document has been prepared which focused particularly on harmonization of assessment methods and criteria across European water policy (CIS, 2005).
For the Wadden Sea, summer chlorophyll concentrations are regarded as a suitable assessment parameter (Beusekom et al. 2005). Assessment criteria for phytoplankton and chlorophyll a (area-specific) are under preparation in the WFD framework and are being tuned Wadden Sea wide (Harbasins, 2007).
Chlorophyll a concentrations and phytoplankton indicator species are assessed as Category II: Direct effects of nutrient enrichment.
(Table 9.1) Assessment of chlorophyll and phytoplankton in the Wadden Sea
| Parameter | Assessment | Objective (area specific) | |
| Chlorophyll a | Chl-a | Elevated maximum and mean level. | Stable or decreasing |
| Phytoplankton | Species composition, abundance | Elevated levels of nuisance/ toxic phytoplankton indicator species and increase duration of blooms. | Decreasing |
Data should be reported annually to the national TMAP data unit (according to the national regulations) to be available for trilateral assessments (see TMAP Data Handling Manual)
It is advised to implement appropriate quality assurance according to the decisions of HELCOM and ICES (see also: ICES / HELCOM 1994 and OSPAR 1997)
Appropriate monitoring protocols should be developed on national level. Intercalibration exercises should be carried out nationally and in the framework of the TMAP.
Quality assurance information together with detection limits and levels of accuracy should be reported
[to be included: reference to existing QA procedures and SOP]
Danmarks Miljøundersøgelser (DMU, NERI)
Miljøministeriet, Miljøcenter Ribe
Landesamt für Natur und Umwelt (LANU)
Niedersächsischer Landesbetrieb für Wasserwirtschaft, Küsten- und Naturschutz (NLWKN)
Alfred-Wegener Institut für Polar- und Meeresforschung (AWI)
Rijkswaterstaat Waterdienst Lelystand
Beusekom, J.E.E. van, H. Fock, F. de Jong, S. Diehl-Christiansen, B. Christiansen, 2001.: Wadden Sea Specific Eutrophication Criteria. Wadden Sea Ecosystem No. 14. Common Wadden Sea Secretariat. Wilhelmshaven, Germany.
Beusekom, J.E.E. van, P. Bot, J. Göbel, M. Hanslik, H.-J- Lenhart, J. Pätsch, L. Pepezak, T. Petenati, K. Reise, 2005.: Eutrophication. In: K. Essink, C. Dettmann, H. Farke, K. Laursen, G. Lüerßen, H. Marencic, W. Wiersinga (Eds.). Quality Status Report 2004. Wadden Sea Ecosystem No. 19. Common Wadden Sea Secretariat. Wilhelmshaven, Germany.
CIS 2005.: Towards a guidance document on eutrophication assessment in the context of European water policy. November 2005.
HARBASINS, 2007.: Synergies in WFD implementation in the Wadden Sea. HARBASINS TMAP workshop, October 2007.
HELCOM, 1988.: Guidelines for the Baltic Monitoring Program for the Third Stage, Baltic Sea Environment Proceedings No. 27 A, Helsinki Commission, December 1988.
HELCOM, 1994.: Workshop on the revision of the Baltic Monitoring Program (BMP), Chapter A: Report of the sub-group "Eutrophication and its effects”.
ICES 1996.: Report of the ICES/HELCOM Second workshop an quality assurance of pelagic measurements in the Baltic Sea, September, 1995, ICES CM 1996/E:1
ICES/HELCOM, 1994.: Report of the ICES/HELCOM Workshop an quality assurance of pelagic measurements in the baltic sea, April 1994, Annex 4 - 6.
OSPAR 2005.: Synergies in Assessment and Monitoring between OSPAR and the European Union Analysis of synergies in assessment and monitoring of hazardous substances, eutrophication, radioactive substances and offshore industry in the North-East Atlantic. Volume 1. Ref-No. 2005/230
OSPAR 2007.: EcoQO Handbook – Handbook for the application of Ecological Quality Objectives in the North Sea. First Edition. Ref-No 2007-307
OSPAR, 1997a.: JAMP Eutrophication Monitoring Guidelines: “Phytoplankton species composition” (3 pp) and “Chlorophyll a in Water” (3 pp).
OSPAR, 1997b.: Common procedure for the identification of the eutrophication status of the maritime area of the Oslo and Paris Conventions. OSPAR 97/15/1, Annex 24