Page 62 - Freshwater-Biology-and-Ecology-Handbook

CHAPTER 1 5.3 – 5.4 Figure 1.18 illustrates the progressive deterioration and the sensitive species being heavily damaged during the most

restoration of the River Rhine during the last century – a
polluted period, as indicated by the significant reduction
in dissolved oxygen concentration. The species number
situation replicated in most industrial European rivers. This
recovers as the pollution is reduced, until a similar, but slightly
is a positive example of how extensive pollution clean-up
different species mix is re-established naturally.
can restore a damaged river. The invertebrate monitoring
information, here shown simply as species number, shows

Species number
of invertebrates in
connection with the
Invertebrates oxygen content in
the Rhine

Figure 1.18
River Rhine deterioration and clean-up 1900 to 2000. Shows links between chemical and biological monitoring and assessment
https://www.iksr.org

62 | Freshwater Biology and Ecology Handbook
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