ALGAL-BASED ECOLOGICAL STATUS ASSESSMENT: A CASE STUDY OF THE DESPOTOVICA RIVER

Diatoms, unlike other algal groups (non-diatoms), are routinely used for ecological status assessment under the Water Framework Directive. The ecological status of the Despotovica River was assessed using epilithic diatoms (IPS, CEE index), non-diatoms (BI index) and physico-chemical parameters. At four sites in autumn 2023 and spring 2024, 99 algal taxa (76 diatoms, 23 non- diatoms) were identified. The ecological status class ranged from I to V based on the physico-chemical parameters, while it ranged from I to IV based on the diatom and BI indices. The BI index results aligned more closely with the physico-chemical data than the diatom indices, suggesting potential for further application.