Using Tiles, Leaves, and Cotton Strips to Measure River Health – Bioengineer.org

Report on Novel Bioindicators for River Ecosystem Health Assessment

Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals

This report details a research initiative that develops a cost-effective and integrative methodology for assessing river ecosystem health. The findings provide critical tools for monitoring and achieving key targets within the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 15 (Life on Land).

Introduction: The Imperative for Healthy Freshwater Ecosystems

River ecosystems are fundamental to planetary health, supporting biodiversity and providing essential services. The degradation of these systems due to anthropogenic pressures directly undermines global sustainability efforts. This research addresses the urgent need for robust monitoring tools to safeguard these resources, aligning with the following SDGs:

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: Specifically Target 6.6, which calls for the protection and restoration of water-related ecosystems.
• SDG 15: Life on Land: Specifically Target 15.1, which aims to ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of freshwater ecosystems and their services.

Methodology: An Integrated Approach to Ecosystem Assessment

Researchers from the University of the Basque Country developed a novel framework to evaluate river health by measuring core ecological functions rather than relying solely on water chemistry analysis. The study was conducted in agricultural streams, providing insights into human impacts relevant to SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).

Experimental Design

The methodology involved the deployment of various organic and inorganic substrates in streams to act as bioindicators. These materials were incubated for four weeks to measure two key ecological processes:

1. Decomposition: The breakdown of organic matter by microbial communities and invertebrates.
2. Primary Production: The accrual of algal biomass.

Substrates Utilized as Bioindicators

A diverse set of substrates was selected to capture different facets of ecosystem functioning:

• Natural Leaves: Alder, oak, and banana leaves were used to measure organic matter breakdown rates.
• Standardized Materials: Cotton strips and tea bags served as consistent proxies for microbial decomposition.
• Inorganic Substrates: Marble tiles were used to quantify algal biomass, indicating primary productivity and nutrient levels.

Results and Implications for SDG Monitoring

The study demonstrated that a combination of specific substrates provides a comprehensive and early warning assessment of river health, offering a practical tool for environmental managers.

Key Findings

• Alder Leaves: Proved most effective for a holistic assessment, reflecting both total organic matter decomposition and macroinvertebrate community health.
• Cotton Strips and Banana Leaves: Acted as highly sensitive indicators of microbial decomposition, signaling subtle ecological disturbances from pollution.
• Marble Tiles: Served as a reliable proxy for primary productivity, effectively measuring the impact of nutrient enrichment from agricultural runoff.

Advancing SDG Targets

The proposed framework directly supports progress towards the SDGs by:

1. Providing Accessible Tools for SDG 6: The low-cost, replicable nature of this method enables widespread monitoring of water quality and ecosystem health, crucial for Targets 6.3 and 6.6.
2. Enhancing Protection under SDG 15: By offering early warnings of ecological degradation, the methodology allows for timely interventions to protect and restore freshwater biodiversity and ecosystem functions (Target 15.1).

Fostering Global Collaboration and Policy Integration

A Framework for Global Partnerships (SDG 17)

The use of standardized, universally available materials facilitates global collaboration and data comparison. This research, part of the GLoBE (Global Patterns of River Ecosystem Functioning) network, exemplifies the partnerships required under SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) to address planetary-scale environmental challenges.

Informing Local Environmental Management

The collaboration with the Vitoria-Gasteiz City Council demonstrates a successful model for integrating scientific research into practical environmental management. This synergy is vital for protecting natural heritage within urban and peri-urban areas, contributing to SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

Conclusion

This research provides a scientifically robust, feasible, and scalable methodology for monitoring the functional integrity of river ecosystems. By leveraging a triad of bioindicators—alder leaves, cotton strips, and marble tiles—environmental agencies can enhance their capacity to detect pollution, prioritize conservation efforts, and report on progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. This approach marks a critical advancement in safeguarding vital freshwater resources for future generations.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

  The article’s central theme is the health of river ecosystems, which are vital freshwater resources. It directly addresses the need to protect and monitor these aquatic environments from anthropogenic influences, aligning with the goal of ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water.

• SDG 15: Life on Land

  This goal focuses on protecting, restoring, and promoting the sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems. The research described in the article aims to safeguard riverine habitats, sustain biodiversity (e.g., microbial communities, invertebrates, algae), and maintain ecosystem integrity, which are core components of SDG 15.

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

  The article details an “innovative study” and the development of “novel bioindicators” and “innovative and reliable indicators.” This focus on scientific research and the creation of new, accessible, and scientifically robust tools for environmental monitoring directly contributes to the innovation aspect of SDG 9.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  The research is presented as a collaborative effort. It mentions the “GLoBE (Global Patterns of River Ecosystem Functioning) network” which aims for global scientific collaboration, and a specific partnership between the university researchers and the “Vitoria-Gasteiz City Council.” These collaborations are essential for achieving sustainable development and are the focus of SDG 17.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
   • Target 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution. The article’s proposed methodology serves as an “early warning signal of anthropogenic impacts,” such as agrarian pressures and nutrient enrichment, which are forms of water pollution that degrade river health.
   • Target 6.6: By 2020, protect and restore water-related ecosystems. The entire study is dedicated to developing better tools for gauging river ecosystem conditions to “safeguard aquatic habitats” and “preserve the functional integrity of vital freshwater resources.”
2. SDG 15: Life on Land
   • Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services. The research provides a framework for monitoring and assessing the health of river ecosystems, which is a prerequisite for their conservation and restoration.
   • Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats and halt the loss of biodiversity. The study assesses “biological communities,” including “microbial communities, invertebrates, and algae,” and uses “diverse macroinvertebrate assemblages” as a measure of ecosystem health, directly addressing the need to monitor and prevent biodiversity loss in these habitats.
3. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
   • Target 9.5: Enhance scientific research and encourage innovation. The article is a clear example of this target in action, describing a research project at the University of the Basque Country that developed an “innovative study to standardize methodologies” and “novel bioindicators” for practical environmental management.
4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • Target 17.6: Enhance international cooperation on and access to science, technology and innovation. The research is part of the “GLoBE network,” which aims to understand river ecosystems globally. The article highlights that the “universality of the proposed substrates aligns well with global scientific collaboration goals, facilitating cross-regional comparisons.”
   • Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships. The article explicitly mentions the “collaboration with technical staff from the Green Belt area of Vitoria-Gasteiz City Council,” which “underscores the importance of integrating scientific inquiry with local environmental management” and ensures research translates into practical applications.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article is fundamentally about developing a new set of practical, cost-effective bioindicators to measure river health. These indicators can be used to track progress towards the aforementioned targets.

• Indicator for Ecosystem Function (Targets 6.3, 6.6, 15.1): The rate of organic matter decomposition. The article specifies using different substrates to measure this:
  • Total organic matter decomposition: Measured by the breakdown of “alder leaves.”
  • Microbial decomposition: Measured by the breakdown of “Banana leaves and cotton strips,” which are noted as being “particularly sensitive to microbial decomposition.”
• Indicator for Primary Productivity and Pollution (Targets 6.3, 15.1): Algal biomass accrual. The article states that “Marble tiles proved effective in quantifying algal biomass accrual, thereby serving as proxies for primary productivity and nutrient enrichment levels.” This directly measures a key ecosystem function and can indicate pollution.
• Indicator for Biodiversity (Target 15.5): Macroinvertebrate community composition. The article mentions that alder leaves were effective in “supporting diverse macroinvertebrate assemblages,” making them “invaluable for holistic ecosystem assessments.” The diversity and composition of these communities are direct indicators of biodiversity.
• Indicator for Scientific Innovation (Target 9.5): The development and publication of new scientific methodologies. The article itself, referencing the published paper “Rojo, D., et al. (2025). … Ecological Indicators,” serves as an indicator of progress in scientific research and innovation.
• Indicator for Partnerships (Targets 17.6, 17.17): The existence and operation of collaborative networks. The article points to two such examples:
  • The “GLoBE (Global Patterns of River Ecosystem Functioning) network” as an indicator of global scientific partnership.
  • The formal “collaboration with technical staff from the Green Belt area of Vitoria-Gasteiz City Council” as an indicator of a local public-scientific partnership.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: bioengineer.org