Skip to main content
Log in

A fish-based assessment tool for the ecological quality of the brackish Schelde estuary in Flanders (Belgium)

  • Primary Research Paper
  • Published:
Hydrobiologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper presents a new approach which was developed to find an optimal combination of candidate metrics for creating a fish-based estuarine biotic index (EBI) for defining the quality status of an estuarine area. The key idea was that a powerful index should minimise two prediction errors simultaneously: falsely declaring the status of a site as disturbed while it is not (Type I error) and the reverse, falsely declaring a disturbed site as undisturbed (Type II error). The balance between both errors is an inherent characteristic of an index and can be displayed as a curve. The area under this curve (AUC) is a measure of the misclassification rate (smaller = better). This criterion was the basis for a stepwise approach whereby in each step a metric resulting in the highest reduction of AUC was added. Five metrics were selected and the distribution of their average was the basis to derive the thresholds for the classes of the EBI. This paper presents the fish-based index (EBI) for the brackish Schelde estuary in Flanders (Belgium). The index was calibrated against fyke net data from five sites during the period from 1995 to 2004. The sites ranged in quality from moderately impacted to very disturbed, classes 3 to 5 respectively. Despite there being neither of the highest classes 1 (high) and 2 (good), the EBI presented can serve as an evaluation tool in the highly impacted situation in Flanders as it discriminates well between moderate and highly impacted sites. In addition, its definition complies with the biological status classes of the European Water Framework Directive (WFD).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adriaenssens, V., P. L. M. Goethals, J. J. Breine, J. Maes, I. Simoens, D. Ercken, C. Belpaire, F. Ollevier & N. De Pauw, 2002a. Importance of references in the development of an estuarine fish index in Flanders. Landschap 19: 59–62.

    Google Scholar 

  • Adriaenssens, V., P. L. M. Goethals, N. De Pauw, J. J. Breine, I. Simoens, C. Belpaire, J. Maes, D. Ercken & F. Ollevier, 2002b. Ontwikkeling van een estuarine visindex in Vlaanderen. Water 2: 1–13.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Araújo, F. G., R. G. Bailey & W. P. Williams, 1999. Spatial and temporal variations in fish populations in the upper Thames estuary. Journal of Fish Biology 55: 836–853.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Araújo, F. G., W.P. Williams & W. P. Bailey, 2000. Fish assemblages as indicators of water quality in the Middle Thames Estuary, England (1980–1989). Estuaries 23: 305–317.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aubry, A. & M. Elliott, 2006. The use of environmental integrative indicators to assess seabed disturbance in estuaries and coasts: application to the Humber estuary, UK. Marine Pollution Bulletin 53: 175–185.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bate, G. C., J. B. Adams & P. A. Smailes, 2004. Benthic diatoms in rivers and estuaries of South Africa. Water Research Commission report 1107.

  • Bate, G. C., A. K. Whitfield, J. B. Adams, P. Huizinga & T. H. Wooldridge, 2002. The importance of the river-estuary interface (REI) zone in estuaries. Water SA 28: 271–279.

    Google Scholar 

  • Borja, A., J. Franco, V. Valencia, J. Bald, I. Muxika, M. J. Belzunce & O. Soluan, 2004. Implementation of the European water framework directive from the Basque country (northern Spain): a methodological approach. Marine Pollution Bulletin 48: 209–218.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Breine, J. J., P. Goethals, I. Simoens, D. Ercken, C. Van Liefferinghe, G. Verhaegen, C. Belpaire, N. De Pauw, P. Meire & F. Ollevier, 2001. De visindex als instrument voor het meten van de biotische integriteit van de Vlaamse binnenwateren. Instituut voor Bosbouw en Wildbeheer, Groenendaal. Eindverslag van project VLINA 9901, studie uitgevoerd voor rekening van de Vlaamse Gemeenschap binnen het kader van het Vlaams Impulsprogramma Natuurontwikkeling. 173 pp. + annexes.

  • Breine, J., I. Simoens, P. Goethals, P. Quataert, D. Ercken, C. Van Liefferinghe & C. Belpaire, 2004. A fish-based index of biotic integrity for upstream brooks in Flanders (Belgium). Hydrobiologia 522: 133–148.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brys, R., T. Ysebaert, V. Escaravage, S. Van Damme, A. Van Braeckel, B. Vandevoorde & E. Van den Bergh, 2005. Afstemmen van referentiecondities en evaluatiesystemen in functie van de KRW: afleiden en beschrijven van typespecifieke referentieomstandigheden en/of MEP in elk Vlaams overgangswatertype vanuit de – overeenkomstig de KRW –ontwikkelde beoordelingssystemen voor biologische kwaliteitselementen. Eindrapport. VMM.AMO.KRW.REFCOND OW. Instituut voor natuurbehoud IN.O. 2005.7.

  • Castillo-Rivera, M., J. A. Zavala-Hurtado & R. Zárate, 2002. Exploration of spatial and temporal patterns of fish diversity and composition in a tropical estuarine system of Mexico. Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries 12: 167–177.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coates, S. A., S. R. Colclough, M. Robson & T. D. Harrison, 2004. Development of an estuarine classification scheme for the water framework directive. Phase 1&2 – Transitional Fish Component. Environment Agency R&D Technical Report E1–131/TR, ISBN 1 84432 262 9. 42 pp. + appendices.

  • Cooper, J. A. G., A. E. L. Ramm & T. D. Harrison, 1994. The estuarine health index: A new approach to scientific information transfer. Ocean & Coastal Management 25: 103–141.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Costa, M. J. & H. N. Cabral, 1999. Changes in the Tagus nursery function for commercial fish species: some perspectives for management. Aquatic Ecology 33: 287–292.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Costa, M. J., H. N. Cabral, P. Drake, A. N. Economou, C. Fernandez-Delgado, L. Gordo, J. Marchand & R. Thiel, 2000. Recruitment and production of commercial species in estuaries. In Elliott, M. & K. L. Hemingway (eds), Fishes in Estuaries. Blackwell Science, Oxford, 54–123.

  • Costanza, R., R. d’Arge, R. de Groot, S. Farber, M. Grasso, V. Hannon, K. Limburg, S. Naeem, R. V. O’Neill, J. Paruelo, R. G. Raskin, P. Sutton & M. van den Belt, 1997. The value of the world’s ecosystem services and natural capital. Nature 387: 253–260.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Deegan, L. A., J. T. Finn, S. G. Ayvazian, C. A. Ryder-Kiefer & J. Buonaccorsi, 1997. Development and validation of an Estuarine Biotic Integrity Index. Estuaries 20: 601–617.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dennison, W. C., R. J. Orth, K. A. Moore, J. C. Stevenson, V. Carter, S. Kollar, P. W. Bergstrom & R. A. Batiuk, 1993. Assessing water quality with submersed aquatic vegetation. BioScience 43: 8–94.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • de Selys-Longchamps, E., 1842. Poissons d’eau douce. Faune Belge 4: 183–245.

    Google Scholar 

  • Diaz, R. J., G. R. Cutter & K. W. Able, 2003. The importance of physical and biogenic structure to juvenile fishes on the shallow inner continental shelf. Estuaries 36: 12–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elliott, M., M. G. O’Reilly & C. J. L. Taylor, 1990. The Forth estuary: a nursery and overwintering area for North Sea fishes. Hydrobiologia 195: 89–103.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elliott, M. & F. Dewailly, 1995. The structure and components of European estuarine fish assemblages. Netherlands Journal of Aquatic Ecology 29: 397–417.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elliott, M. & K. L. Hemingway, 2002. In Elliott, M. & K. L. Hemingway (eds), Fishes in Estuaries. Blackwell Science, Oxford, 577–579.

  • Elliott, M., K. L. Hemingway, M. J. Costello, S. Duhamel, K. Hostens, M. Labropoulou, S. Marshall & H. Winkler, 2002. Links between fish and other trophic levels. In Elliott, M. & L. Hemingway (eds), Fishes in Estuaries. Blackwell Science, Oxford, 124–216.

  • EU Water Framework Directive, 2000. Directive of the European parliament and of the council 2000/60/EC establishing a framework for community action in the field of water policy. Official Journal of the European Communities 22.12.2000 L 327/1.

  • Fairweather, P. G., 1999. Determining the ‘health’ of estuaries: Priorities for ecological research. Australian Journal of Ecology 24: 441–451.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Galatowitsch, S. M., D. C. Whited & J. R. Tester, 1999. Development of community metrics to evaluate recovery of Minnesota wetlands. Journal of Aquatic Ecosystem Stress and Recovery 6: 217–234.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gelwick, F. P., S. Akin, D. A. Arrington & K. O. Winemiller, 2001. Fish assemblage structure in relation to environmental variation in a Texas gulf coastal wetland. Estuaries 24: 285–296.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gray, J. S., 1989. The effects of environmental stress on species rich assemblages. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 37: 19–32.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hamerlynck, O. & K. Hostens, 1994. Changes in the fish fauna of the Oosterschelde estuary, a ten-year time series of fyke catches. Hydrobiologia 282/283: 497–507.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrison, T. D., J. A. Cooper & A. E. L. Ramm, 2000. State of South African estuaries. Geomorphology, ichthyofauna, water quality and aesthetics. State of the Environment Series Report No. 2. Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Pretoria, 127 pp.

  • Harrison, T. D. & A. K. Whitfield, 2004. A multimetric index to assess the environmental condition of estuaries. Journal of Fish Biology 65: 683–710.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hinz, V., 1989. Monitoring the fish fauna in the Wadden sea with special reference to different fishing methods and effects of wind and light on catches. Helgoländer Meeresunters 43: 447–459.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hoffman, M. & P. Meire, 1997. De oevers langs de Zeeschelde inventarisatie van de huidige oeverstructuren. Water 95: 131–137.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hostens, K. & J. Mees, 1999. The mysid-feeding guild of demersal fishes in the brackish zone of the Westerschelde estuary. Journal of Fish Biology 55: 704–719.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hughes, J. E., L. A. Deegan, M. J. Weaver & J. E. Costa, 2002. Regional application of an index of estuarine biotic integrity based on fish communities. Estuaries 25: 250–263.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hughes, R. M., P. R. Kaufmann, A. T. Herlihy, T. M. Kincaid, L. Reynolds & D. P. Larsen, 1998. A process for developing and evaluating indices of fish assemblage integrity. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 55: 1618–1631.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jager, Z. & J. Kranenbarg, 2004. Referenties en maatlatten: Achtergronddocument vissen. OVB, Nieuwegein, 144 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Llanso, R. J., L. C. Scott, J. L. Hyland, D. M. Dauer, D. E. Russell & F. W. Kutz, 2002. An estuarine benthic index of biotic integrity for the mid-Atlantic region of the United States; II. Index development. Estuaries 25: 1231–1242.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lutz, P., 1975. Adaptive and evolutionary aspects of the ionic content of fish. Copeia 2: 369–373.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maes ,J., 2000. The structure of the fish community of the Zeeschelde estuary. Laboratory of Aquatic Ecology, Catholic University Louvain, PhD thesis, 143 pp.

  • Maes, J., A. Taillieu, P. Van Damme & F. Ollevier, 1997. The composition of the fish and crustacean community of the Zeeschelde estuary (Belgium). Belgian Journal of Zoology 127: 47–55.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maes, J., P. Van Damme, A. Taillieu & F. Ollevier, 1998a. Fish communities along an oxygen-poor salinity gradient (Zeeschelde Estuary, Belgium). Journal of Fish Biology 52: 534–546.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maes, J., A. Taillieu, P. Van Damme, K. Cottenie & F. Ollevier, 1998b. Seasonal patterns in the fish and crustacean community of a turbid temperature estuary (Zeeschelde Estuary, Belgium). Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 47: 143–151.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maes, J., J. Pas, A. Taillieu, P. Van Damme & F. Ollevier, 1999. Diel changes in the vertical distribution of juvenile fish in the Zeeschelde Estuary. Journal of Fish Biology 54: 1329–1333.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maes, J., B. Geysen, D. Ercken & F. Ollevier, 2003. Opvolging van het visbestand van de Zeeschelde resultaten voor 2002. Studierapport in opdracht van het Instituut voor Bosbouw en Wildbeheer, 28 pp.

  • McCormick, F. H., R. M. Hughes, P. R. Kaufmann, D. V. Peck, J. L. Stoddard & A. T. Herlihy, 2001. Development of an Index of Biotic Integrity for the Mid-Atlantic Highlands Region. Transaction of the American Fisheries Society 130: 857–877.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McLusky, D. S. & M. Elliott, 2004. The Estuarine Ecosystem: Ecology, Threats and Management. Oxford University Press, 214 pp.

  • Mikkelson, G. M., 1993. How do food webs fall apart? A study of changes in throphic structure during relaxation on habitat fragments. Oikos 67: 539–547.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miller, D. L., P. M. Leonard, R. M. Hughes, J. R. Karr, P. B. Moyle, L.H. Schrader, B. A. Thompson, R. A. Daniels, K. D. Faush, G. A. Fitzhugh, J. R. Gammon, D. B. Halliwel, P. L. Angermeier & D. J. Orth, 1988. Regional applications of an index of biotic integrity for use in water resource management. Fisheries 13: 12–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moy, Y. C., 2004. Development and evaluation of an estuarine biotic integrity index for South Carolina tidal creeks. Thesis submitted and approved to obtain the Master of Science degree in marine biology at the Graduate School, college of Charleston, 321 pp.

  • Newcombe, C. P. & J. O. Jensen, 1996. Channel suspended sediment and fisheries: A synthesis for quantitative assessment for risk and impact. North American Journal of Fisheries Society 16: 693–727.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nijssen, H. & S. J. De Groot, 1987. De Vissen van Nederland. Stichting KNNV-Uitgeverij, Utrecht.

  • OVB, 1988. Cursus vissoorten. Organisatie ter verbetering van de binnenvisserij, Lelystad, 914 pp.

  • OVB, 1994. Toekomst voor trekvissen nog onzeker. Organisatie ter verbetering van de binnenvisserij. Nieuwegein 16: 53–55.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peterson, M. S., B. H. Comyns, J. R. Hendon, P. J. Bond & G. A. Duff, 2000. Habitat use by early life-history stages of fishes and crustaceans along a changing estuarine landscape: differences between natural and altered shoreline sites. Wetland Ecology and Management 8: 209–219.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Poll, M., 1945. Contribution à la connaissance de la faune ichthyologique du bas-Escaut. Bull. Mus. Zool. Nat. Belgique 121: 11–32.

    Google Scholar 

  • Poll, M., 1947. Poissons marins, Faune de Belgique. Ouvrage étude par le patrimoine du Musée Royal d’Histoire Naturelle de Belgique. 452 pp.

  • Potter, I. C., P. N. Claridge, G. A. Hyndes & K. R. Clarke, 1997. Seasonal, annual and regional variations in ichthyofauna in the inner Severn estuary and inner Bristol Channel. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 77: 507–525.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ramm, A. E. L., 1990. Application of the community degradation index to South African estuaries. Water Research 24: 383–389.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Salas, F., J. M. Nete, A. Borja & J. C. Marques, 2004. Evaluation of the applicability of a marine biotic index to characterize the status of estuarine ecosystems: the case of Mondego estuary (Portugal). Ecological Indicators 4: 215–225.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simenstad, C. A. & J. R. Cordell, 2000. Ecological assessment criteria for restoring anadromous salmonid habitat in Pacific Northwest estuaries. Ecological Engineering 15: 283–302.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thiel, R. & I. C. Potter, 2001. The ichthyofaunal composition of the Elbe estuary: an analysis in space and time. Marine Biology 138: 603–616.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thiel, R., H. Cabral & M. J. Costa, 2003. Composition, temporal changes and ecological guild classification of the ichthyofaunas of large European estuaries – a comparison between the Tagus (Portugal) and the Elbe (Germany). Journal of Applied Ichthyology 19: 330–342.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tong, S. T. Y., 2001. An integrated exploratory approach to examining the relationships of environmental stressors and fish responses. Journal of Aquatic Ecosystem Stress and Recovery 9: 1–19.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Damme, S., E. Struyf, T. Maris, T. Ysebaert, F. Dehairs, M. Tackx, C. Heip & P. Meire, 2005. Spatial and temporal patterns of water quality along the estuarine salinity gradient of the Scheldt estuary (Belgium and The Netherlands): results of an integrated monitoring approach. Hydrobiologia 540: 29–45.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vandelannoote, A., R. Yseboodt, B. Bruylants, R. Verheyen, C. Belpaire, G. Van Thuyne, B. Denayer, J. Beyens, D. De Charleroy, J. Coeck, J. Maes & P. Vandenabeele, 1998. Atlas van de Vlaamse beek- en riviervissen. Water Energik Vlario, Wijnegem, 303 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van den Bergh, E., S. Van Damme, J. Graveland, D. de Jong, I. Baten & P. Meire, 2005. Ecological rehabilitation of the Schelde estuary (The Netherlands-Belgium; Northwest Europe): linking ecology, safety against floods, and accessibility for port development. Restoration Ecology 13: 204–214.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Dolah, R. F., J. L. Hyland, A. F. Holland, J. S. Rosen & T. R. Snoots, 1999. A benthic index of biological integrity for assessing habitat quality in estuaries of the southeastern USA. Marine Environmental Research 48: 269–283.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weisberg, S. B., J. A. Ranasinghe, D. M. Dauer, L. C. Schaffner, R. J. Diaz & J. B. Frithson, 1997. An estuarine benthic index of biotic integrity (B-IBI) for Chesapeake Bay. Estuaries 20: 149–158.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Williams, G. D. & J. B. Zedler, 1999. Fish assemblage composition in constructed and natural tidal marshes of San Diego Bay: relative influence of channel morphology and restoration history. Estuaries 22: 702–716.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Whitfield, A. K. & M. Elliott, 2002. Fishes as indicators of environmental and ecological changes within estuaries – a review of progress and some suggestions for the future. Journal of Fish Biology 61: 229–250.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Many thanks to all people who assisted in the field with the fish stock assessments. The authors are grateful to M. Elliott and S. Coates for their useful comments on the manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jan J. Breine.

Additional information

Handling Editor: K. Martens

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Breine, J.J., Maes, J., Quataert, P. et al. A fish-based assessment tool for the ecological quality of the brackish Schelde estuary in Flanders (Belgium). Hydrobiologia 575, 141–159 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-006-0357-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-006-0357-z

Keywords

Navigation