TY - JOUR
T1 - A zone-specific fish-based biotic index as a management tool for the Zeeschelde estuary (Belgium)
AU - Breine, Jan
AU - Quataert, Paul
AU - Stevens, Maarten
AU - Ollevier, F
AU - Volckaert, F. A. M
AU - Van den Bergh, Erika
AU - Maes, J
N1 - Publication Authorstring : Breine, J.; Quataert, P.; Stevens, M.; Ollevier, F.; Volckaert, F.A.M.; Van den Bergh, E.; Maes, J.
Publication RefStringPartII : <i>Marine Pollution Bulletin 60(7)</i>: 1099-1112. <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2010.01.014" target="_blank">dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2010.01.014</a>
PY - 2010
Y1 - 2010
N2 - Fish-based indices monitor changes in surface waters and are a valuable aid in communication by summarising complex information about the environment (Harrison and Whitfield, 2004). A zone-specific fish-based multimetric estuarine index of biotic integrity (Z-EBI) was developed based on a 13year time series of fish surveys from the Zeeschelde estuary (Belgium). Sites were pre-classified using indicators of anthropogenic impact. Metrics showing a monotone response with pressure classes were selected for further analysis. Thresholds for the good ecological potential (GEP) were defined from references. A modified trisection was applied for the other thresholds. The Z-EBI is defined by the average of the metric scores calculated over a one year period and translated into an ecological quality ratio (EQR). The indices integrate structural and functional qualities of the estuarine fish communities. The Z-EBI performances were successfully validated for habitat degradation in the various habitat zones. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
AB - Fish-based indices monitor changes in surface waters and are a valuable aid in communication by summarising complex information about the environment (Harrison and Whitfield, 2004). A zone-specific fish-based multimetric estuarine index of biotic integrity (Z-EBI) was developed based on a 13year time series of fish surveys from the Zeeschelde estuary (Belgium). Sites were pre-classified using indicators of anthropogenic impact. Metrics showing a monotone response with pressure classes were selected for further analysis. Thresholds for the good ecological potential (GEP) were defined from references. A modified trisection was applied for the other thresholds. The Z-EBI is defined by the average of the metric scores calculated over a one year period and translated into an ecological quality ratio (EQR). The indices integrate structural and functional qualities of the estuarine fish communities. The Z-EBI performances were successfully validated for habitat degradation in the various habitat zones. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
U2 - 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2010.01.014
DO - 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2010.01.014
M3 - A1: Web of Science-article
VL - 60
SP - 1099
EP - 1112
JO - Marine Pollution Bulletin
JF - Marine Pollution Bulletin
IS - 7
ER -