Abstract
Criteria for eutrophication related parameters to achieve and preserve good environmental status (GES) of the oligotrophic Israeli Mediterranean coast were proposed for nutrients, chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) and suspended particulate matter (SPM) concentrations. The criteria were derived from current conditions, the best choice for the area that has undergone large and irreversible ecological changes compared to the pristine background. A five-year data set (2010–2014, ca. 800 data points) was analyzed using statistical methods and best professional judgement. The coastal waters were divided into four provinces, data gaps were identified, and seasonal reference and threshold values for each province determined as the median and 1.5 times the median, respectively. Application of the derived criteria to data up to 2016 showed the coastal waters to be mainly in GES, with a few exceptions. Simplification of the proposed criteria for environmental management was addressed as well.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 612-620 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Marine Pollution Bulletin |
Volume | 141 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Apr 2019 |
Externally published | Yes |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2019 Elsevier Ltd
Keywords
- Chlorophyll-a
- Environmental criteria derivation
- Good environmental status
- Nutrients
- Reference conditions
- Suspended particulate matter
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Oceanography
- Aquatic Science
- Pollution