Assessing ecological integrity in marine waters, using multiple indices and ecosystem components: challenges for the future.

摘要: During the last decade, there have been substantial scientific advances in development of indices that measure condition biological ecosystem elements coastal and estuarine waters. Though successful, these were only initial steps a special session on use ecological integrity assessments was held at Coastal Estuarine Research Federation meeting to focus field most appropriate directions for next decade. The identified four primary challenges: (i) reduce array by identifying index approaches are widely successful; (ii) establish minimum criteria validation; (iii) intercalibrate methods achieve uniform assessment scales across geographies habitats; (iv) integrate elements. Where an explosion characterized decade needs be consolidation. With increased knowledge understanding about strengths weaknesses competing approaches, unify provide managers with simple answers they need information effectively efficiently.