Review and evaluation of estuarine biotic indices to assess benthic condition

Pinto, Rute; Patrício, Joana; Baeta, Alexandra; Fath, Brian D.; Neto, João M.; Marques, João Carlos

doi:10.1016/j.ecolind.2008.01.005

Cited by 247 publications

(112 citation statements)

References 89 publications

(135 reference statements)

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“…Opportunist polychaetes are resistant, indifferent or favoured by organically enriched sedimentary matter, whereas amphipods form a particular zoological group which is sensitive to significant increases in organic matter. The main advantages of this index, as well as the reduced taxonomic knowledge, are its independence of sampling protocols, its use of mesh sieves and of the surface unit chosen to express abundances, since this uses frequency data and the proportion of each category of organism (Pinto et al, 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Testing BOPA index in sewage affected soft-bottom communities in the north-western Mediterranean

de-la-Ossa-Carretero

Del‐Pilar‐Ruso

Casalduero

et al. 2009

Marine Pollution Bulletin

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a b s t r a c tThe implementation of the European directive (ELD) 2000/60/EC has produced the development of several biotic indices based in benthic communities. These indices try to summarise ecological quality status of different communities. However, a universal index that works in all situations is difficult to establish, because there are several sources of variation. Therefore, there is the need for testing and validation of these indices which is required for making management decisions on different scales, and in different regions and communities. In this study we test one of these indices, BOPA index, developed by Dauvin and Ruellet [Dauvin, J.C., Ruellet, T., 2007. Polychaete/amphipod ratio revisited. Marine Pollution Bulletin 55, 215-224] in five locations affected by sewage disposal. These disposals are often released via outfall into shallow subtidal habitats, leading to a common source of pollution in coastal marine environments. BOPA index provides a valuable overview of the gradient status of a benthic environment, discriminating between stations more affected by discharge. Nevertheless, BOPA index, used to establish the ecological quality status, seemed to overestimate the status and hence there is the need to calibrate the thresholds between EcoQs classes as defined for these medium-to-fine sand communities, which are characteristics of shallow sublittoral soft-bottoms of the north-western Mediterranean Sea.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Testing BOPA index in sewage affected soft-bottom communities in the north-western Mediterranean

de-la-Ossa-Carretero

Del‐Pilar‐Ruso

Casalduero

et al. 2009

Marine Pollution Bulletin

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“…Moreover, indicators could provide a valuable means of com munication to stakeholders and policymakers (Aubry and Elliott, 2006). Furthermore, ecological indices are used as quantitative tools in simplifying, through discrete and rigorous methodologies, the attributes and weights of multiple indica tors with the intention of providing broader indication of a resource, or the resource attributes, being assessed (Pinto et al, 2009). A clear distinction between indices and indicators must be made.…”

Section: Macroinvertebratesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Univariate indices were largely developed for marine or coastal ecosystems; however, new functional and multimetric indices are being developed for macroinvertebrates (see Díaz et al, 2004;Borja and Dauer, 2008;ICES, 2008;Pinto et al, 2009). The benthic indicators and indices can be classified into four categories: (1) based on diversity, (2) based on ecological groups, (3) based on trophic groups, and (4) indices synthesiz ing several other indicators.…”

Section: Macroinvertebratesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Classifying Ecological Quality and Integrity of Estuaries

Borja¹,

Basset²,

Bricker³

et al. 2011

Treatise on Estuarine and Coastal Science

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There is an increasing need in assessing ecological quality and integrity of estuaries and lagoons. This chapter shows the most recent efforts in assessing individual biological elements (from phytoplankton to fishes), together with the integrative tools developed in different geographical areas worldwide. However, reducing complex information from multiple ecosystem elements to a single color or value is a substantial challenge to marine scientists, and requires the integration of different disciplines (chemists, engineers, biologists, ecologists, physics, managers, etc.), to reach agreement on the final assignment of ecological status. Hence, in the near future, emphasis needs to be directed at understanding the complexities of estuarine system functioning rather than simplifying and scaling down the system into smaller components. Provided for non-commercial research and educational use.Not for reproduction, distribution or commercial use.This chapter was originally published in Treatise on Estuarine and Coastal Science, published by Elsevier, and the attached copy is provided by Elsevier for the author's benefit and for the benefit of the author's institution, for noncommercial research and educational use including without limitation use in instruction at your institution, sending it to specific colleagues who you know, and providing a copy to your institution's administrator.All other uses, reproduction and distribution, including without limitation commercial reprints, selling or licensing copies or access, or posting on open internet sites, your personal or institution's website or repository, are prohibited.For exceptions, permission may be sought for such use through Elsevier's permissions site at: Author's personal copy AbstractThere is an increasing need in assessing ecological quality and integrity of estuaries and lagoons. This chapter shows the most recent efforts in assessing individual biological elements (from phytoplankton to fishes), together with the integrative tools developed in different geographical areas worldwide. However, reducing complex information from multiple ecosystem elements to a single color or value is a substantial challenge to marine scientists, and requires the integration of different disciplines (chemists, engineers, biologists, ecologists, physics, managers, etc.), to reach agreement on the final assignment of ecological status. Hence, in the near future, emphasis needs to be directed at understanding the complexities of estuarine system functioning rather than simplifying and scaling down the system into smaller components.

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“…There is a variety of tools available to evaluate environmental integrity (e.g. environmental quality indices), although probably none of them are completed suitable (Pinto et al, 2009;Marques et al, 2009 Aubry and Elliott, 2006;Gray and Elliott, 2009). Additionally, the acknowledgement that much of a nation's economic prosperity depends on ecosystem functioning, and that many natural ecosystems are under threat, has led to the emergence of a new interest in defining, measuring and protecting ecosystem goods and services.…”

Section: Building Management Scenarios Towards Ecological Sustainabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

The ecological sustainability trigon – A proposed conceptual framework for creating and testing management scenarios

Marques

Basset

Brey

et al. 2009

Marine Pollution Bulletin

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a b s t r a c tThe ability to achieve ecological sustainability and the sustainable development of marine and estuarine ecosystems constitutes a complex major challenge and depends on many driving forces, often conflicting with each other. In particular, there are three major drivers: (a) the search for human well-being, health and safety, (b) the maintenance of ecological sustainability and environmental equilibrium, and (c) the tolerance of an increasing human population pressure and demand for wealth creation.We propose here the use of a conceptual guidance tool -the ecological sustainability trigon (EST) -as a means of building and testing environmental management scenarios. Although it requires further testing, the EST allows us to (a) address those three major drivers using human society view as a common currency, and (b) describe our behaviour, energetics (economy) and dynamics through ecological theory. Moreover, the EST appears promising for gap analysis and the means to address new research questions.

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Review and evaluation of estuarine biotic indices to assess benthic condition

Cited by 247 publications

References 89 publications

Testing BOPA index in sewage affected soft-bottom communities in the north-western Mediterranean

Testing BOPA index in sewage affected soft-bottom communities in the north-western Mediterranean

Classifying Ecological Quality and Integrity of Estuaries

The ecological sustainability trigon – A proposed conceptual framework for creating and testing management scenarios

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