Invertebrate traits for the biomonitoring of large European rivers: an initial assessment of alternative metrics

摘要: Summary 1. The application of environmental policy and legislation across large-scale administrative units creates a growing need for standard tools to assess monitor the ‘ecological health’ rivers, requirement that can be achieved through description ecological functions lotic invertebrate species in river communities. 2. To alternative metrics, we tested how functional structure (described by 14 biological traits) communities 190 large reaches differed with respect differences taxonomic resolution (species, genus, family), taxa weighting traits (raw abundance, ln-transformed presence–absence data) consideration alien (inclusion or exclusion), these influenced potential descriptions discriminate gradient multiple human impacts. 3. Functional derived at level species, genera families were very similar, whereas from raw abundances significantly those both data. Functional after exclusion considerably including species. 4. Generally, discriminated according impact. Taxonomic scarcely discrimination impact levels, use decreased comparison Exclusion also levels. 5. When considered separately, individual describing maximal size, number descendants per reproductive cycle, cycles individual, life duration adults, method, parental care, body form feeding habits had highest impact. 6. Our findings indicate genus perhaps family identifications are sufficient large-river biomonitoring using traits. Although could provide better low levels impact, data should community changes caused elevated Europe.