COMPARATIVE PERFORMANCE OF BENTHIC DIATOM INDEXES USED TO ASSESS RIVER WATER-QUALITY

The performance of five types of benthic diatom index (four quantitative methods and a zoning system) to evaluate water quality was tested in rivers in England and Scotland. Significant correlations were observed between the four quantitative indices examined. In the case of SPI (Specific Pollution sensitivity Index) and GDI (Generic Diatom Index), over 80% of the variation in GDI was explained by a bivariate regression on SPI. Samples taken from six sites at four different times of year showed no significant influence of season on any of the indices. The zoning system led to a similar assessment of organic pollution as the SPI and GDI indices, but it was sometimes difficult to determine the zone. This method showed no obvious advantages over the quantitative indices. The high correlation between values for indices based on species and those on genera suggests that for routine monitoring, recognition to the generic level is adequate.