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

• Evidence-based Decision Support for Hydrological Ecosystem Services from Wetlands (EviWet)
• FRESHBAR – Barcoding of freshwater organisms for improved assessment of biodiversity
• sensors for high-frequency measurements in lakes and water courses (page in Swedish listing several projects).

Read more

• tools for status classification of lakes and streams concerning nutrients, acidification and biology (in Swedish)
• SLU-network for DNA-barcoding
• the webpage environmental statistics miljostatistik.se (in Swedish)
• SLU Knowledge bank: Better assessments of ecological status (in Swedish)
• SLU Knowledge bank: Benthic algae as environmental indicators (in Swedish)
• SLU Knowledge bank: Surveying aquatic vegetation from the air (in Swedish)
• 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
• pesticide decision-support and risk assessment tools (MACRO models)
• examples of our research infrastructure.