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 questions:

• Can DNA barcoding improve the monitoring of diatoms and assessments of ecological status of lakes and streams?
• How can sensors continously monitoring water chemichal parameters improve environmental assassment?

Read more:

• Tools for status classification of lakes and streams concerning nutrients, acidification and biology (in Swedish)
• SLU-network for DNA-barcoding
• SLU Knowledge bank: Better assessments of ecological status (in Swedish)
• SLU Water HUB - a competence centre for nutrient leaching. Among other things developing the models FyrisNP, INCA, PERSiST and USBED
• Pesticide decision-support and risk assessment tools (MACRO models)