Biological water quality provides key information on the status and long-term development of lakes and running waters. Based on the requirements of the European Water Framework Directive (WFD), this presentation outlines the methods and results of biological water monitoring in South Tyrol and highlights the role of bioindicators in assessing ecological status. Using selected examples, it explains how different groups of organisms, including macrozoobenthos, macrophytes, diatoms, phyto- and zooplankton, as well as fish, respond to pressures such as nutrient inputs, morphological alterations or hydrological interventions. Sampling methods and assessment indices are presented in a practical way and placed within the broader framework of the overall evaluation of lakes and rivers. Particular attention is given to results from South Tyrolean water bodies, which show that many lakes are in good to very good condition, while in some cases restoration and remediation measures are still required. The example of Lake Völser Weiher illustrates how targeted actions, such as fish removal, phosphorus reduction or the reintroduction of aquatic plants, can contribute to ecological improvement. The presentation is aimed at a technically interested audience and provides a clear overview of how biological investigations support an integrated assessment of aquatic ecosystems, enable the early detection of changes, and inform measures for the protection and sustainable use of water resources.
Renate Alber has been working for over thirty years as a biologist at the Biological Laboratory of the Provincial Agency for the Environment and Climate Protection. There, she assesses the ecological status of rivers and lakes based on various biological quality elements, as required by European legislation. Her work focuses on macrozoobenthos, diatoms, phytoplankton and macrophytes in South Tyrolean waters.
The event can also be followed online on the Museum’s YouTube channel.
