Overview

Investigations of phytoplankton are an important part of marine environment monitoring. Phytoplankton responds rapidly to environmental changes (supply of nutrient salts, climate, light access, etcetera), and monitoring of occurrence, species composition and biomass may therefore in many cases be used to characterise the environment and the degree of impacts. The European Union Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) therefore requires monitoring of marine phytoplankton as a part of assessments of ecological conditions. Investigations of phytoplankton are also included in monitoring programmes connected with other European directives (Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, Habitats Directive), international conventions and national regulations. Monitoring of harmful/toxic phytoplankton is carried out both for the aquaculture industry and in connection with authorities' control of organisms for human consumption (shellfish). This requires uniform procedures for collection and quantification of phytoplankton. Most principles for characterisation of environmental conditions based on phytoplankton require the use of quantitative methods, that is, that the occurrence of species and their quantities (see DIN EN 15204:2005) can be related to a known water mass. Data interpretation further requires information on the physical and chemical properties of the water body (supporting parameters). In order for environmental authorities to utilise the information, it is important that the investigations are comparable in space and time and that the data is of high scientific quality. The standard focuses on a limited selection of methods that can be documented precisely, reproduced and which have been in use for some time. This European Standard gives guidance for sampling, preservation, storage, quantification and qualitative analysis of phytoplankton from marine waters. Guidance for quantification is limited to the use of light microscopy with phase-contrast and epifluorescence. This European Standard specifies: - the development of the sampling programme; - requirements for sampling equipment; - procedures for sampling and treatment of samples in the field; - methods for quantification; - qualitative analysis. The European Standard has been prepared by CEN/TC 230 "Water Analysis". The responsible German committee is Working Group NA 119-01-03-05-06 AK "Biologisch-ökologische Gewässeruntersuchung" ("Biological-ecological water examination") of Working Committee NA 119-01-03 AA "Wasseruntersuchung" ("Water Analysis") at NAW. The project has been funded by the Länderfinanzierungsprogramm "Wasser, Boden und Abfall" (federal funding programme "Water, soil and waste").

Document: references other documents

Responsible national committee

NA 119-01-03-05-06 AK - Biological-ecological water examination  

Responsible european committee

CEN/TC 230/WG 2 - Biological methods co-ordination group