A holistic water monitoring approach for an effective ecosystem management

Abstract

Eutrophication is one of the most pressing problems affecting water quality. As a consequence, harmful algae blooms (HABs) are intensifying their occurrence in many aquatic ecosystems around the world. Under this water quality risk scenario, long term monitoring arises as a need to recognize, understand and anticipate the HABs outbreaks. However, existing monitoring methodologies are limited when dealing with HABs, thus forcing to make assumptions and decisions based on interpolated and inconsistent data. This conceptual paper attempts to highlight the importance of moving towards an integrated water monitoring methodology, where manual sampling, on-site automatic high-frequency monitoring (AHFM) and remote sensing are aligned to facilitates decision-making. In addition, because of the key role of microbial communities on the drift of aquatic ecosystems and water quality, they should be considered as a key element in HABs monitoring and management programs. In this manner, the biotic knowledge could be integrated into coordinated response plans as ecosystem management tools. Therefore, this holistic approach could provide decision makers and stakeholders an adaptive water resource management grounded on the theory of ecohydrology.