Measuring the attainment of biological integrity in the USA: a critical element of ecological integrity

Barbour, Michael T.; Swietlik, William F.; Jackson, Susan K.; Courtemanch, David L.; Davies, Susan P.; Yoder, Chris O.

doi:10.1007/978-94-011-4164-2_35

Cited by 62 publications

(60 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…Nevertheless, they must be confirmed by a consistent multivariate technique, such as cluster analysis, even if it is recognized that invertebrate taxa vary continuously along environmental gradients, and sites, therefore, show a weak tendency to cluster into discrete groups (Hawkins and Vinson, 2000). Barbour et al (2000) also describe a flexible strategy for the establishment of the reference condition, by assuming that heavy agricultural, industrial or urbanized areas reference conditions can be established based on diverse procedures, such as historical records, simulation models or expert judgments. Obviously, when historical information is scarce and a quick answer is needed, we cannot follow the advice of Reynoldson et al (1995) to do multimetric and multivariate analyses side by side and to base the ultimate decision of site disturbance on the interpretation of both approaches.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Combining Logistic Models with Multivariate Methods for the Rapid Biological Assessment of Rivers Using Macroinvertebrates

Oliveira

Cortes

2006

Environ Monit Assess

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Abstract. This work represents an attempt to define a simple method to classify the relative degree of disturbance of sites in lotic systems on the basis of comparison of their faunistic composition with reference sites. Two ecotypes were selected in northern Portugal where benthic invertebrates were sampled in reaches with different levels of contamination. As a first stage, previous Geographic Information System information was used to define reference sites in each ecotype. Afterwards, multivariate techniques and non linear estimation models were combined to assess biological quality. This method allowed us to quantify sites according to increasing levels of contamination, after the probabilities of occurrence of taxa along a gradient of contamination taking into account the reference condition. The results suggest that this method is sensitive to organic pollution, easy to interpret, namely the species tolerance, and could be a good framework to establish regional rankings depending on the ecological impact of river sites.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Combining Logistic Models with Multivariate Methods for the Rapid Biological Assessment of Rivers Using Macroinvertebrates

Oliveira

Cortes

2006

Environ Monit Assess

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“…Selecting the sensitive metrics, we divided the recorded range of each metric to three levels (Diffendorfer et al, 2007 andKarr andChu, 1999). Score of 1, 3 or 5 assigned to each level using conventional method that Barbour (2000), Diffendorfer et al (2007), and Karr and Chu (1999) had used in their studies. These triple thresholds were achieved by statistical trisection of the range of values in observed metrics.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Developing a Quantitative Index of Integrity as a Comprehensive Measure in Ecological Change Analysis

2015

AEER

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Abstract. Ecological Integrity is one of the main scientific measures in the comprehensive assessment of ecosystems. The purpose of this study was to: (a) find a way to depict the disturbance gradient of our case study in northern Iran (b) develop an index of biotic integrity; (c) finally provide a baseline for assessing ecological integrity. Analytical metrics of spatial composition and configuration were applied to identify the disturbance gradient. Estimating of these metrics helped to define three levels of disturbance using the Ward's method of clustering analysis. A quantitative index of integrity was constructed, using three types of bird guilds including structural, functional and compositional .Results showed the range of integrity index at Miankaleh Peninsula was a value from 26 to 68. Statistical analysis including One-Way ANOVA and Pearson Correlation and paired sample t-test were conducted to investigate the validity and reliability of the Index. Findings of this research showed that biotic integrity in parts of the Miankaleh Peninsula was far from its intact condition. Developed index of biological integrity in this research can help to assess effects of the disturbance factors on the natural ecosystem of Miankaleh to prioritize the best management actions for restoring of this ecosystem.

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“…This approach allows the evaluation of water quality in a basin through multivariate analyses, where sites are evaluated by their physical and chemical characteristics plus the structure and composition of their benthic macrofauna (Barbour et al, 1996;Reynoldson et al, 1997;Barbour et al, 2000). For this study, the minimally disturbed condition (MDC) concept suggested by Stoddard et al (2006) was employed, considering reference sites as those without significant human disturbances.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of the BEAST model for biomonitoring water quality in a neotropical basin

et al. 2009

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The use of predictive models in Neotropical basins is relatively new, and applying these models in large basins is hindered by the lack of ecological, geographical, and social-environmental knowledge. Despite these difficulties, we used data from the das Velhas River basin to apply the BEAST (Benthic Assessment of SedimenT) methodology to evaluate and classify the level of environmental degradation. Our two main objectives were to modify and implement the BEAST methodology for use in biomonitoring programs of Brazilian basins, and to test the hypothesis that a gradient of environmental degradation determines a gradient in the structure and composition of benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages. We evaluated 37 sites: 8 in the main river, 15 in the main tributaries with different impact levels, and 14 in tributaries with minimally disturbed conditions (MDC). The BEAST model allowed us to classify 16 test sites: two as natural, four as altered, three as highly altered, and seven as degraded. Our results indicated degradation of the das Velhas River basin near its urban areas. The BEAST model indicated that the pollution gradient found among the sites generated a gradient of the macroinvertebrate assemblages, corroborating the hypothesis.

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Measuring the attainment of biological integrity in the USA: a critical element of ecological integrity

Cited by 62 publications

References 14 publications

Combining Logistic Models with Multivariate Methods for the Rapid Biological Assessment of Rivers Using Macroinvertebrates

Combining Logistic Models with Multivariate Methods for the Rapid Biological Assessment of Rivers Using Macroinvertebrates

Developing a Quantitative Index of Integrity as a Comprehensive Measure in Ecological Change Analysis

Use of the BEAST model for biomonitoring water quality in a neotropical basin

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