ECOLOGY - lower level

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Question n. 1 - THE SURROUNDING AREA
What to observe

The land use pattern beyond the river consists of:

A Wild forest, woodland, and/or natural wetlands, undisturbed land	B Mainly thickets and/or or meadows, uncultivated fields, pastures, few cultivated areas
C Mainly seasonal or permanent crops, orchards or vineyards, sparse buildings	D Mainly roads and buildings urbanised areas

Question n. 1 - THE SURROUNDING AREA
What to observe

A Wild forest, woodland, and/or natural wetlands, undisturbed land	B Mainly thickets and/or or meadows, uncultivated fields, pastures, few cultivated areas
C Mainly seasonal or permanent crops, orchards or vineyards, sparse buildings	D Mainly roads and buildings urbanised areas

Question n. 2 - THE VEGETATION OF THE RIPARIAN ZONE
What to observe

The vegetation within 10 meters of the riverbank is mostly formed by:

The vegetation within 10 meters of the riverbank is mostly formed by:

A Many mature trees, especially typical from wetlands (alders, willows, poplars)	B Many shrubs, some trees, thickets, reed thicket (flatland)
C Some trees or shrubs resulting from human influence	D Trees and shrubs absent, vegetation consisting mostly of grassy or bare soil

Question n. 2 - THE VEGETATION OF THE RIPARIAN ZONE
What to observe

A Many mature trees, especially typical from wetlands (alders, willows, poplars)	B Many shrubs, some trees, thickets, reed thicket (flatland)
C Some trees or shrubs resulting from human influence	D Trees and shrubs absent, vegetation consisting mostly of grassy or bare soil

Question n. 3 - THE VEGETATION STRIP
What to observe

The vegetation strip along the riparian zone is:

The vegetation strip along the riparian zone is:

A Intact, more than 30 meters wide, without breaks in vegetation	B From 5 to 30 meters wide, and/or interrupted by some grassy gaps
C Less than 5 meters wide, or grasses covering more than 50% of the riparian strip	D With grassy soil or bare soil, trees and shrubs quite absent (or riverbank interrupted by a street)

Question n. 3 - THE VEGETATION STRIP
What to observe

A Intact, more than 30 meters wide, without breaks in vegetation	B From 5 to 30 meters wide, and/or interrupted by some grassy gaps
C Less than 5 meters wide, or grasses covering more than 50% of the riparian strip	D With grassy soil or bare soil, trees and shrubs quite absent (or riverbank interrupted by a street)

Question n. 4 - THE RIVERBANKS
What to observe

The riverbanks are:

The riverbanks are:

A Stable, of rocks, or held firmly by grasses, shrubs and tree roots	B Firm, held by shrubs and grass, reed thicket
C Loose, held by a sparse layer of grass	D Loose soil or sand; smooth artificial riverbanks (cemented boulders, concrete)

Question n. 4 - THE RIVERBANKS
What to observe

A Stable, of rocks, or held firmly by grasses, shrubs and tree roots	B Firm, held by shrubs and grass, reed thicket
C Loose, held by a sparse layer of grass	D Loose soil or sand; smooth artificial riverbanks (cemented boulders, concrete)

Question n. 5 - BANK EROSION
What to observe

Water flow can cause bank erosion. Is this happening here?

Water flow can cause bank erosion. Is this happening here?

A Not evident	B Yes, but only in bends and/or at bottlenecks
C Yes, it is frequent, with undercutting of banks and exposed roots	D Yes, it is very evident with collapsed banks or there are artificial prevention devices (concrete, stockade, ballast, weirs)

Question n. 5 - BANK EROSION
What to observe

A Not evident	B Yes, but only in bends and/or at bottlenecks
C Yes, it is frequent, with undercutting of banks and exposed roots	D Yes, it is very evident with collapsed banks or there are artificial prevention devices (concrete, stockade, ballast, weirs)

Question n. 6 - THE RIVER BED
What to observe

If you observe the stream/river bottom, it appears:

If you observe the stream/river bottom, it appears:

A Very diversified – no artificial elements	B Diverse substrates in the bottom, rare and small artificial elements, e.g. under a bridge
C Only a few substrates, in most cases one substrate dominates, artificial elements can be present	D Artificial fixation e.g. concrete or pavement is dominating

Question n. 6 - THE RIVER BED
What to observe

A Very diversified – no artificial elements	B Diverse substrates in the bottom, rare and small artificial elements, e.g. under a bridge
C Only a few substrates, in most cases one substrate dominates, artificial elements can be present	D Artificial fixation e.g. concrete or pavement is dominating

Question n. 7 - ENBANKMENTS
What to observe

From your observation point, there are:

From your observation point, there are:

A Natural riverbanks, or there are far embankments	B Natural riverbanks with slight artificial elements
C Mainly artificial riverbanks but vegetated or renaturalised	D Entirely artificial riverbanks and/or presence of embankments near the riverbed

Question n. 7 - ENBANKMENTS
What to observe

A Natural riverbanks, or there are far embankments	B Natural riverbanks with slight artificial elements
C Mainly artificial riverbanks but vegetated or renaturalised	D Entirely artificial riverbanks and/or presence of embankments near the riverbed

Question n. 8 - RIFFLES, POOLS AND MEANDERS
What to observe

Does the water flow generate riffles, pools and meanders?

Does the water flow generate riffles, pools and meanders?

A Yes, they are frequent and regularly occurring	B Yes, they are present but irregularly spaced
C Long pools separate short riffles, few meanders	D No, they are absent; the channel is artificially designed

Question n. 8 - RIFFLES, POOLS AND MEANDERS
What to observe

A Yes, they are frequent and regularly occurring	B Yes, they are present but irregularly spaced
C Long pools separate short riffles, few meanders	D No, they are absent; the channel is artificially designed

Question n. 9 - THE DETRITUS
What to observe

Observing the bottom of the river, better if you sample the bed material with hands, what is noteworthy?

Observing the bottom of the river, better if you sample the bed material with hands, what is noteworthy?

A Only identifiable vegetal fragments (leaves and woods)	B Fibrous and pulpy vegetal fragments, not completely identifiable
C Fine matter with sediments	D Fine sediment black in color, black spots under the stones and foul odor

Question n. 9 - THE DETRITUS
What to observe

A Only identifiable vegetal fragments (leaves and woods)	B Fibrous and pulpy vegetal fragments, not completely identifiable
C Fine matter with sediments	D Fine sediment black in color, black spots under the stones and foul odor

Question n.10 - THE CAPACITY FOR WATER
What to observe

Observing the width of the wet riverbed, compared to the moderate flow riverbed, you can say:

Observing the width of the wet riverbed, compared to the moderate flow riverbed, you can say:

A The river always has a lot of water	B We can suppose seasonal variations (ex. Autumn/Spring)
C Frequent flow fluctuations are evident, proved by visible and recently transported residue	D There is always a little water, or the water flows on a waterproof bottom

Question n.10 - THE CAPACITY FOR WATER
What to observe

A The river always has a lot of water	B We can suppose seasonal variations (ex. Autumn/Spring)
C Frequent flow fluctuations are evident, proved by visible and recently transported residue	D There is always a little water, or the water flows on a waterproof bottom