@article{warner_empowering_2024,

title = {Empowering citizen scientists to improve water quality: from monitoring to action},

author = {Stuart Warner and Sara Blanco Ramírez and Sandra De Vries and Nancy Marangu and Henriette Ateba Bessa and Carla Toranzo and Madina Imaralieva and Tommaso Abrate and Enock Kiminta and José Castro and Marcelo Luiz De Souza and Abdul Ghaffar Memon and Steven Loiselle and Mohamed Sahr E. Juanah},

url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frwa.2024.1367198/full},

doi = {10.3389/frwa.2024.1367198},

issn = {2624-9375},

year  = {2024},

date = {2024-04-01},

urldate = {2025-04-04},

journal = {Frontiers in Water},

volume = {6},

pages = {1367198},

abstract = {Citizen science (CS) has so far failed to achieve its potential to contribute to water resource management globally despite a significant body of work proclaiming the benefits of such an approach. Also, this work has addressed concerns over precision, accuracy and reliability of methods used. This article presents the findings of a hackathon-type workshop challenge that brought together water quality experts and CS practitioners to explore barriers and possible solutions to mainstream citizen scientist-generated data into national, regional, and global reporting processes, and thereby provide a tangible connection between policy makers and community-based citizen scientists. We present the findings here as a perspective-type summary. This workshop challenge highlighted the breadth and scope of CS activities globally yet recognized that their potential for positive impact is going unrealized. The challenge team proposed that impact could be improved by: developing awareness; applying a simultaneous bottom-up/top-down approach to increase success rates; that local leaders or ‘catalysts' are key to initiate and sustain activities; that generated data need to fulfill a purpose and create required information, and ultimately, lead to actions (data > information > action); recognizing that we are all potential citizen scientists is important; recognizing that “good water quality” is subjective; and lastly that developing a communication gateway that allows bi-directional data and information transfer is essential.},

keywords = {ws-citizen-science, wwqa-deliverable},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{simaika_towards_2024,

title = {Towards harmonized standards for freshwater biodiversity monitoring and biological assessment using benthic macroinvertebrates},

author = {John P. Simaika and James Stribling and Jennifer Lento and Andreas Bruder and Sandra Poikane and Marcelo S. Moretti and Nick Rivers-Moore and Kristian Meissner and Craig R. Macadam},

url = {https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0048969724004959},

doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170360},

issn = {00489697},

year  = {2024},

date = {2024-03-01},

urldate = {2025-04-11},

journal = {Science of The Total Environment},

volume = {918},

pages = {170360},

abstract = {Monitoring programs at sub-national and national scales lack coordination, harmonization, and systematic review and analysis at continental and global scales, and thus fail to adequately assess and evaluate drivers of biodiversity and ecosystem degradation and loss at large spatial scales. Here we review the state of the art, gaps and challenges in the freshwater assessment programs for both the biological condition (bioassessment) and biodiversity monitoring of freshwater ecosystems using the benthic macroinvertebrate community. To assess the existence of nationally- and regionally- (sub-nationally-) accepted freshwater benthic macroinvertebrate protocols that are put in practice/used in each country, we conducted a survey from November 2022 to May 2023. Responses from 110 respondents based in 67 countries were received. Although the responses varied in their consistency, the responses clearly demonstrated a lack of biodiversity monitoring being done at both national and sub-national levels for lakes, rivers and artificial waterbodies. Programs for bioassessment were more widespread, and in some cases even harmonized among several countries. We identified 20 gaps and challenges, which we classed into five major categories, these being (a) field sampling, (b) sample processing and identification, (c) metrics and indices, (d) assessment, and (e) other gaps and challenges. Above all, we identify the lack of harmonization as one of the most important gaps, hindering efficient collaboration and communication. We identify the IUCN SSC Global Freshwater Macroinvertebrate Sampling Protocols Task Force (GLOSAM) as a means to address the lack of globally-harmonized biodiversity monitoring and biological assessment protocols.},

keywords = {Bioassessment, Biodiversity, Biomonitoring, Ecological condition, Inland water, Invertebrate, Lake, River, ws-bbma, wwqa-deliverable},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{tammeorg_sustainable_2024,

title = {Sustainable lake restoration: From challenges to solutions},

author = {Olga Tammeorg and Ingrid Chorus and Bryan Spears and Peeter Nõges and Gertrud K. Nürnberg and Priit Tammeorg and Martin Søndergaard and Erik Jeppesen and Hans Paerl and Brian Huser and Jukka Horppila and Tom Jilbert and Agnieszka Budzyńska and Renata Dondajewska‐Pielka and Ryszard Gołdyn and Sina Haasler and Seppo Hellsten and Laura H. Härkönen and Mina Kiani and Anna Kozak and Niina Kotamäki and Katarzyna Kowalczewska‐Madura and Silvia Newell and Leena Nurminen and Tiina Nõges and Kasper Reitzel and Joanna Rosińska and Jukka Ruuhijärvi and Soila Silvonen and Christian Skov and Tamara Važić and Anne‐Mari Ventelä and Guido Waajen and Miquel Lürling},

url = {https://wires.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/wat2.1689},

doi = {10.1002/wat2.1689},

issn = {2049-1948, 2049-1948},

year  = {2024},

date = {2024-03-01},

urldate = {2025-07-14},

journal = {WIREs Water},

volume = {11},

number = {2},

pages = {e1689},

abstract = {Abstract 

 Sustainable management of lakes requires us to overcome ecological, economic, and social challenges. These challenges can be addressed by focusing on achieving ecological improvement within a multifaceted, co‐beneficial context. In‐lake restoration measures may promote more rapid ecosystem responses than is feasible with catchment measures alone, even if multiple interventions are needed. In particular, we identify restoration methods that support the overarching societal target of a circular economy through the use of nutrients, sediments, or biomass that are removed from a lake, in agriculture, as food, or for biogas production. In this emerging field of sustainable restoration techniques, we show examples, discuss benefits and pitfalls, and flag areas for further research and development. Each lake should be assessed individually to ensure that restoration approaches will effectively address lake‐specific problems, do not harm the target lake or downstream ecosystems, are cost‐effective, promote delivery of valuable ecosystem services, minimize conflicts in public interests, and eliminate the necessity for repeated interventions. Achieving optimal, sustainable results from lake restoration relies on multidisciplinary research and close interactions between environmental, social, political, and economic sectors. 

 This article is categorized under: 

 Science of Water > Water Quality 

 Water and Life > Stresses and Pressures on Ecosystems 

 Water and Life > Conservation, Management, and Awareness},

keywords = {ws-ecosystems},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{ZHOU2024122018,

title = {Unexpected increase of sulfate concentrations and potential impact on CH4 budgets in freshwater lakes},

author = {Chuanqiao Zhou and Muchun Zhou and Yu Peng and Xiaoguang Xu and Akihiko Terada and Guoxiang Wang and Huan Zhong and Tsuyoshi Kinouchi},

url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0043135424009187},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2024.122018},

issn = {0043-1354},

year  = {2024},

date = {2024-01-01},

urldate = {2024-01-01},

journal = {Water Research},

volume = {261},

pages = {122018},

abstract = {The continuous increase in sulfate (SO42−) concentrations discharged by anthropogenic activities lacks insights into their dynamics and potential impact on CH4 budgets in freshwater lakes. Here we conducted a field investigation in the lakes along the highly developed Yangtze River basin, China, additionally, we analyzed long-term data (1950-2020) from Lake Taihu, a typical eutrophic lake worldwide. We observed a gradual increase in SO42− concentrations up to 100 mg/L, which showed a positive correlation with the trophic state of the lakes. The annual variations indicated that eutrophication intensified the fluctuation of SO42− concentrations. A random forest model was applied to assess the impact of SO42− concentrations on CH4 emissions, revealing a significant negative effect. Synchronously, a series of microcosms with added SO42− were established to simulate cyanobacteria decomposition processes and explore the coupling mechanism between sulfate reduction and CH4 production. The results showed a strong negative correlation between CH4 concentrations and initial SO42− levels (R2 = 0.83), indicating that higher initial SO42− concentrations led to lower final CH4 concentrations. This was attributed to the competition for cyanobacteria-supplied substrates between sulfate reduction bacteria (SRB) and methane production archaea (MPA). Our study highlights the importance of considering the unexpectedly increasing SO42− concentrations in eutrophic lakes when estimating global CH4 emission budgets.},

keywords = {associated-publication, Eutrophic lakes, Machine learning, Organic carbon mineralization, Substrate competition, Sulfate reduction},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{poikane_global_2024,

title = {A global assessment of lake restoration in practice: New insights and future perspectives},

author = {Sandra Poikane and Martyn G. Kelly and Gary Free and Laurence Carvalho and David P. Hamilton and Konstantina Katsanou and Miquel Lürling and Stuart Warner and Bryan M. Spears and Kenneth Irvine},

url = {https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1470160X23014723},

doi = {10.1016/j.ecolind.2023.111330},

issn = {1470160X},

year  = {2024},

date = {2024-01-01},

urldate = {2025-07-14},

journal = {Ecological Indicators},

volume = {158},

pages = {111330},

keywords = {ws-ecosystems},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{plisnier_need_2023,

title = {Need for harmonized long-term multi-lake monitoring of African Great Lakes},

author = {Pierre-Denis Plisnier and Robert Kayanda and Sally MacIntyre and Kevin Obiero and William Okello and Anthony Vodacek and Christine Cocquyt and Hussein Abegaz and Alfred Achieng and Balagizi Akonkwa and Christian Albrecht and Charles Balagizi and James Barasa and Rafiki Abel Bashonga and Alexis Bashonga Bishobibiri and Harvey Bootsma and Alberto V. Borges and Geoffrey Chavula and Tallent Dadi and Els L. R. De Keyzer and Patrick J. Doran and Nestory Gabagambi and Robert Gatare and Andrew Gemmell and Abebe Getahun and Lloyd H. Haambiya and Scott N. Higgins and Béni L. Hyangya and Ken Irvine and Mwapu Isumbisho and Carlos Jonasse and Cyprian Katongo and Sergei Katsev and James Keyombe and Ismael Kimirei and Tchalondawa Kisekelwa and Mary Kishe and Simon Otoung A. Koding and Jeppe Kolding and Benjamin M. Kraemer and Peter Limbu and Evans Lomodei and Shigalla B. Mahongo and John Malala and Stella Mbabazi and Pascal M. Masilya and Matt McCandless and Modesta Medard and Zephaniah Migeni Ajode and Hillary D. Mrosso and Eric R. Mudakikwa and N'sibula Mulimbwa and Déo Mushagalusa and Fabrice A. Muvundja and Angela Nankabirwa and David Nahimana and Benjamin P. Ngatunga and Maxon Ngochera and Sharon Nicholson and Muderhwa Nshombo and Gaspard Ntakimazi and Chrispine Nyamweya and Joyce Ikwaput Nyeko and Daniel Olago and Tekle Olbamo and Catherine M. O'Reilly and Natacha Pasche and Harris Phiri and Nina Raasakka and Anham Salyani and Claver Sibomana and Greg M. Silsbe and Stephanie Smith and Robert W. Sterner and Wim Thiery and Janviere Tuyisenge and Martin Van Der Knaap and Maarten Van Steenberge and Paul A. M. Van Zwieten and Erik Verheyen and Mulugeta Wakjira and John Walakira and Oscar Ndeo Wembo and Theodore Lawrence},

url = {https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0380133022000326},

doi = {10.1016/j.jglr.2022.01.016},

issn = {03801330},

year  = {2023},

date = {2023-12-01},

urldate = {2025-04-08},

journal = {Journal of Great Lakes Research},

volume = {49},

number = {6},

pages = {101988},

keywords = {africa-use-case, wwqa-deliverable},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}