Partial order theory for assessing the sensitivity of planktonic algae to anthropogenic disturbances in regulated lakes

The use of phytoplankton as a quality indicator has been adopted by the European Water Frame Directive issued in 2000 (WFD 2000/60CE), which has widen the connotation of biological survey by shifting the attention from an anthropocentric view of natural systems towards a more ‘eco-centric’ view. Within this framework, this paper offers an insight into phytoplankton communities living in hydrologically regulated lakes. Data come from an extensive survey carried out by Cesi Ricerca during 2004 in nine Italian reservoirs which are exploited at different levels for power production. Phytoplankton communities are investigated at the order level. The authors followed a multi-dimensional approach with the goal of identifying the level of sensitivity of algae communities to anthropogenic disturbances. Results highlight two groups of algae orders: one consisting of algae with their own regulation mechanisms, which do not follow the mechanism of reservoir regulation. The other consisting of algae which adapted to anthropogenic disturbances and can be considered robust to exploitation. This approach, if applied in similar water bodies, may be used for optimizing the experimental effort providing methods for ecological classification which are cost-effective, as explicitly recommended in the 2008 European call on Environment