Water Pollution Biology

Abstract

Freshwater systems are disproportionately diverse, yet they are experiencing extinction rates several times higher than terrestrial systems. Water pollution is a key pressure on our freshwaters and biological monitoring plays a crucial role in identifying, understanding and managing these impacts. This chapter reviews the sources and effects of a range of common pollutants on aquatic organisms such as organics, nutrient enrichment, acidification, as well as the threats posed by some of the important emerging contaminants (e.g. engineered nanoparticles and personal health care products). The chapter concludes with a review of the increasingly important role of biological monitoring in routine environmental assessments of freshwaters, both in the laboratory and in the field. From laboratory toxicity tests and new molecular tools providing early warning systems for pollutant impacts, to the integrated monitoring of freshwater systems at a catchment scale, we consider how biological assessments are being used for improving and safeguarding the ecological status of our lakes and rivers.