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Integrated assessment of running waters is the focal point of the European Water Framework Directive. This book provides deep insight into principles and methodologies of river assessment, covering the whole range from the definition of reference conditions and river typologies to specific problems such as the most appropriate taxonomic resolution and software applications. It is focused on benthic macroinvertebrates, the taxonomic group most frequently used in bioassessment. The underlying principles are relevant for other taxonomic groups used in bioassessment and other ecosystem types, even beyond aquatic habitats.

The monitoring of benthic diatoms, macrophytes, macroinvertebrates and fish will be the backbone of future water management in Europe. This book describes and compares the relevant methodologies and tools, based on a large data set covering rivers in most parts of Europe. Seven sections on'Stream and River Typologies','Linking Organism Groups','Macrophytes and Diatoms','Hydromorphology','Tools for Assessing European Streams with Macroinvertebrates','Intercalibration and Comparison'and'Errors and Uncertainty in Bioassessment Methods'with altogether 36 articles provide scientists and water managers with a unique insight into background and application of state-of-the-art monitoring tools.