A First Biopollution Index Approach and Its Relationship on Biological Quality in Catalan Rivers

The purpose of this chapter is to present results of the applicability of the most well-known biopollution (BP) and biocontamination (BC) indices available in the literature by using information from the standard monitoring programme for fish carried out in Catalonia. As a part of this exercise, the pertinence of the results is evaluated by answering two questions: (1) are the BP&BC indices actually indicators for quality status, i.e. do their results respond to indicators of pressures on water bodies? And if so, (2) are the indices redundant with the existing indices of quality status for a given biological element? This discussion will be done in relation to the use of information on alien species (AS) for the purpose of future management and the ensuing role of uncertainty in the ecological assessment on water bodies according to the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC).