Spatial and temporal assessment of implemented NBS

WP 2 aims to understand the links between the biodiversity and the ES of the NBS, considering the SETS dimension that influences ecological quality of the NBS. This will be done by quantifying biodiversity in surface waters, namely the taxonomic, functional, and structural components. The WP2 will focus on key providers of ES related to water circulation (aquatic vegetation) and the sensitive ecological indicators (macroinvertebrates). Both the spatial and temporal strategy will be used to assess the implemented NBS.

Tasks:

Task 2.1. Create common sampling design framework (in natural state, restored, degraded).

Task 2.2. Temporal assessment of implemented NBS. Historical data on water level and quality of the aquifers of the catchment before and after the implementation of NBSs will be collected. Moreover, we will collect and analyze information about quantity and quality of the river water, and, about the diversity of freshwater biota.

Task 2.3. Physicochemical and quantitative assessment of the NBS’ water (ES: water supply and water purification). The water sampling program will be based on 4 samples collected in different seasons in one year. Water quality elements of study include pH, conductivity, alkalinity, nutrients, BOD and soluble oxygen.

Task 2.4. Macrophyte biodiversity assessment in the NBS (ES: space for wildlife). Macrophyte sampling will focus on plants in the water, including all emergent, submerged, and floating plants as well as bryophytes and filamentous algae. The sampling includes 10-m long river transects in the distinctive habitats of the reaches studied (riffles, pools and stagnant water). The number of transects in each habitat will be based on the relative surface of each kind of habitat. Species abundance will be quantified in a 9-level cover scale (Birk and Willby 2010).

Task 2.5. Macroinvertebrate biodiversity assessment in the NBS (ES: space for wildlife). Aquatic macroinvertebrates sampling will be used to measure important ecosystem parameters, such as community structure, secondary biomass, and water quality. Sampling will be carried out using WFD standardized methods adapted to local conditions (JRC, 2009) once per season for one year. Taxonomic and trait-based biodiversity will be calculated with commonly used invertebrate metrics. The relationship between the community and environmental conditions, anticipating significant influences of water temperature, velocity, depth and seasonality will be calculated (10.1080/00288330.1995.9516679). Assessment of water quality will be measured by several biotic indices, pollution tolerance indicators, Biological Monitoring Working Party Score System (BMWP) and its regional derivatives (10.1016/0043-1354(83)90188-4).

Task 2.6. Estimate the use of the water stored in the NBS (ES: water supply). Isotopic composition will be used to measure the functioning of aquaticNBS, focusing on water residence time and water use by plants. Stable isotopes of oxygen and hydrogen will be measured in free water and within plant tissue, and compared to rain and ground water isotopes, to study water sources partitioning within the water basin and how that is influenced by aquaticNBS (10.1111/jvs.12647). Samples of water (within the aquaticNBS, rain and groundwater) and vegetation and soil (at different distances/height from the aquatic NBS) will be collected once per season during one year and sent for analysis in a common lab. Water from plant tissue and soils will be extracted using a cryogenic vacuum distillation system (10.1007/s00442-007-0777-0).

Task 2.7. Measure nutrient and carbon recycling in NBS (ES: nutrient cycling and water purification). Nutrient assimilation and organic matter decomposition will be assessed in the different habitats of the control and the restored reaches by means of standardized protocols (10.1016/j.ecolind.2023.110776, 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.07.090). Biofilm carriers and organic material (wooden veneers) will be incubated in the field and collected every season for one year. Biofilm carriers will be transferred to a container with a standard solution with nutrients and incubated in the field for 1 hour. A sample of the final solution will be frozen and later analysed for nutrients to estimate retention rate. The final mass of the incubated organic material will be measured to estimate the use of organic matter.

Task 2.8. Integrated analysis of data gathered in tasks 2.2-2.7 (milestone) (preparation for WP3) Evaluate functionality of measuring actions for objectives, relationships between measures variables on NBS level, within each catchment.

Deliverables:

D2.1. Scientific papers: #3 macroinvertebrates biodiversity and implications to WFD; #4 nutrient and carbon cycling within the water-basins; #5 macrophytes diversity across the WFD and implications for WFD; #6 isotopic composition of water and implications for ES; #7 spatiotemporal effects of NBS across Europe on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning (month 30) (month 32); 

D2.2 Draft technical guidelines on common sampling framework (month 34)