Les diatomées et les indices diatomiques dans les réseaux de mesure de la qualité des cours d'eau Français : Historique et avenir

Abstract

The use of diatoms and diatom indices in the networks for measurement of the quality of French watercourses was initiated on the Seine in 1970. As from 1990, applications in the Rhône-Méditerranée-Corse, the Artois-Picardie, the Rhin-Meuse and the Adour-Garonne basins reflected a renewed interest. In 1994, the six French Water Agencies associated with CEMAGREF to elaborate a practical diatom index liable to be used routinely in the whole French territory, and to promote and facilitate its use in monitoring networks. This diatom index should take its place next to the Global Biological Standardized Index in the biological section of the future quality assessment system for watercourses, at present being elaborated. Further developments should, therefore, focus on the consolidation of this index in France and on tests in different European countries.