This project assesses the impact of dams on aquatic animal and plant communities in relation to water quality (zooplankton, macroinvertebrates, phytoplankton, periphyton, macrophytes).

As part of the Biomonitoring project and the Sélune observatory , pilot stations have been set up along the main course of the Sélune, distributed from upstream to downstream of the hydroelectric dams. Three stations are located in the former reservoirs of the dams, while the other two, known as the reference stations, are outside the area of influence of the former dams (one downstream and the other upstream). At these stations, aquatic biocenoses (including benthic macroinvertebrates, biofilms, macrophytes, etc.) are monitored. 2 sampling campaigns (spring and autumn) for benthic macroinvertebrates (bmi) have been carried out since September 2014. During each campaign, 2 sampling protocols are implemented: - in accordance with standard NF T90-333, which enables the calculation of the IBG-DCE and I2M2 (‘SURBER’) - via artificial substrates immersed for 1 month (‘SUBART’), in order to focus on measuring the ‘effect of dams’. The protocol is described in: Piscart C., Moreteau, J.C., Beisel J.N. (2006). Monitoring changes in freshwater macroinvertebrate communities along a salinity gradient using artificial substrates. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 116: 529-542. This layer details the benthic macroinvertebrate taxa and their abundance obtained after analysis (according to standard NF T90-388). These data are distributed by campaign and by sector. Taxa presenting all the morphological criteria clearly visible and characteristic allowing the exactitude of their determination and an irreproachable state of conservation are integrated into the reference collection of the Sélune Observatory. This collection can be consulted on request (see contact point). Taxon determination is based on version v17 of the TAXREF reference. The dataset is currently under embargo.

Benthic macro-invertebrates (insects, crustaceans, molluscs, worms) form an important link in the food chain. As part of the Sélune observatory, pilot stations have been set up along the main course of the Sélune, distributed from upstream to downstream of the hydroelectric dams. Three stations are located in the former reservoirs of the dams, while the other two, known as the reference stations, are outside the area of influence of the former dams (one downstream and the other upstream). At these stations, the aquatic biocenoses (including benthic macroinvertebrates, biofilms, macrophytes, etc.) are monitored. The parameters monitored are the taxonomic composition of the communities at 5 stations in the main river, located upstream, downstream and in the new lotic habitats. The sampling frequency involves two annual sampling campaigns (spring and autumn). The protocols implemented are the installation of 4 artificial substrates (SUBART) per station and a survey after 1 month of immersion as well as 12 Surber samples per station, in accordance with standard NF T 90-333 (2016), allowing the calculation of the I2M2 in accordance with standard NF T 90-388 (2020) and Mondy et al. 2012, 2012. This layer shows the location of the study sectors used to monitor benthic macroinvertebrates and the campaigns carried out. This monitoring was finalised with the latest field acquisitions in 2025.