Towards a more comprehensive assessment of river corridor conditions: A comparison between the Morphological Quality Index and three biotic indices

摘要: Abstract River management and planning of restoration actions require a detailed analysis stream conditions. However, most biotic hydromorphological indices that have been developed for implementing the European Water Framework Directive (WFD) are characterized by limited spatial temporal scales application. In addition, based on biological quality elements defined WFD sensitive to water but not alterations. To overcome these limitations, alternative recently developed. this study we compared results obtained with Morphological Quality Index (MQI) those three indices, Odonate (ORI) two BQE-based in seven rivers northern Italy. MQI ORI resulted highly significantly correlated, alterations river functionality continuity were relevant impacts affecting dragonfly assemblages. Conversely, no significant relationships found between both The correlation can be explained correspondence scale application (i.e. whole corridor). contrast, lack probably attributed different at which work. underline importance evaluating lateral dimension corridor need apply reach-scale achieve comprehensive evaluation conditions define appropriate actions.