Environmental assessment and tools

The department has for many years participated in the development of biological and chemical assessment methods used in the assessment according to the European water framework directive, and the development of critical load of acidifying compounds in lakes. Additionally, different models, for calculation of for example nutrient leaching and transport, are used and developed at the department.

Other work aimed at improving assessment and monitoring includes the use of sensors for automated continuous measurements of physiochemical water parameters and development of DNA-barcoding methods for species identification.

Examples of research projects

• Development of ecological quality criteria for physicochemical quality elements in freshwater
• Evidence-based Decision Support for Hydrological Ecosystem Services from Wetlands (EviWet)
• DNA-streckkodning av kiselalger
• FRESHBAR – Barcoding of freshwater organisms for improved assessment of biodiversity

Sensors

• Sensors for high-frequency measurements in lakes, water courses and drinking water treatment plants (page in Swedish listing several projects)

Read more

Tools

• Pesticide decision-support and risk assessment tools (MACRO models)
• The webpage environmental statistics miljostatistik.se (in Swedish)
• Storymaps showing data which can be used in planning mitigation measures against nutrient leaching from agricultural land (in Swedish)
• Tools for evaluation of limed waters (in Swedish)
• Tools for status classification of lakes and streams concerning nutrients, acidification and biology (in Swedish) 

Collaborative centres

• EDNA network for DNA-barcoding
• Mälaren in focus – a cooperation between SLU and Lake Mälaren's water conservation association about research and environmental monitoring
• SLU Water Hub - a competence centre on nutrient leaching. Among other things developing the models FyrisNP, INCA, PERSiST and USBED

SLU Knowledge bank

• Better assessments of ecological status (in Swedish)
• Benthic algae as environmental indicators (in Swedish)
• Surveying aquatic vegetation from the air (in Swedish)

Research infrastructure

• Examples of our research infrastructure