Integrated system for the assessment of ecological status and diversity Danube Delta lotic aquatic systems

The project objective was the assessment of the ecological status and diversity of aquatic lotic systems of the Delta. To accomplish this objective, the methodology for assessing the ecological status defined at
national level was tested, considering that Romania's accession to the EU imposed as national priority obligation to harmonize national legal framework with EU legislation which includes the Water Framework
Directive (WFD). Thus, in the four phases of the project carried out during 2013-2015, both state variables that influence the composition and structure of phytoplankton and macroinvertebrates as well as the
dynamics of biological elements were characterized, the rare metal contamination (Au, Ag, Ti Zr) and radioactive metals (R, U, Th, K) were assessed and potential vectors for pathogens from benthic invertebrates’ fauna structure were identified.