PLS-PM for ecological integrity mapping: Case study of the Ave River basin, Portugal

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2019

Authors

António Fernandes (Author) Other; Ana Rita Lopes Ferreira (Author) Other; Luís Filipe Sanches Fernandes (Author) Other; Rui Manuel Vitor Cortes (Author) Other; Fernando António Leal Pacheco (Author) Other

Journal

Title: WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment

Vol. 239

Pages: 145-157

ISSN: 1743-3541

Publisher: WIT Press

Indexing

Scopus - 2 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00R-GYZ

DOI: 10.2495/ws190131

Abstract (EN): The bonds between pollution sources, contaminant concentrations and ecological damage are quite complex to access, but the proper management of river basins requires the full understanding of those interactions. In the present study, four SEM-PLS models were used to set up environmental cause¿effect relationships in a heavily polluted urban catchment: the Ave River Basin. Data were collected within this watershed relative to point source discharges, diffuse emissions, diffuse indicators (e.g. land use), contaminant concentrations and a Portuguese index of macroinvertebrates diversity (IPtIN). The same dataset was used in the four SEM-PLS models, but each run was based on a different combination of latent variables. In all cases, it was possible to recognize that nitrogen discharges from livestock production, industrial and urban treatment plants are the dominant threats to water quality. The model results were robust, characterized by high, adjusted R Squared values ¿ from 0.744 to 0.931. The models were also used to draw water quality maps. Now, the purpose was to test their prediction capability. Since more than 80% of the water courses were correctly classified for IPtIN, the predictions were considered feasible. © 2019 WIT Press

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific