Abstract
The performance of six diatom indices to evaluate water quality has been studied in the Artois-Picardie water basin. Results show that all of them satisfactorily assess organic pollution which is the main phenomenon responsible for the degradation of water quality throughout the year. However, only the Specific Pollution Sensitivity Index (SPI), the Generic Diatom Index (GDI) and the Commission of Economical Community Index (CEC) show significant correlations with the ionic strength (expressed by chlorides, sulphates and conductivity) and eutrophication (expressed by chlorophyll and nitrates). Diatom indices do not integrate chemical parameters in the same way. Best correlations are obtained through simultaneous or average chemical analyses whereas for other parameters, best correlations are noted with chemical analyses carried out just before diatom sampling. Tests performed on different chemical data sets show that it is possible to make a realistic estimation of water quality during the summer in the Artois-Picardie water basin by using SPI in September.
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Prygiel, J., Coste, M. The assessment of water quality in the Artois-Picardie water basin (France) by the use of diatom indices. Hydrobiologia 269, 343–349 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00028033
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00028033