THE ASSESSMENT OF SENSITIVITY OF BIOTIC INDICES IN DETERMINING SYMPTOMS AND LEVELS OF DISTURBANCE USING MACROBENTHIC ASSEMBLAGE DATA

摘要: a large number of techniques, including variety indices, have been proposed and developed for assessment. Structural functional variability summarized through both univariate and multimetric indices as integrative indicators in environmental monitoring programs. In general, multimetric indices are considered to be sensitive, stable, robust, thus offer promising approach for ecological assessment. This study is aimed assess the degree sensitivity several terms their ability to determine changes. Based on macrofaunal data, multimetric indices were used compare level disturbance at fallowed farm reference (control) sites. The two AZTI’s Marine Biotic Indices (AMBI) Ecological Quality Ratio (EQR), were used categorisation each sampled site. The results showed that a combination index provide better assessment. categories determined by seem accordance with expressed the trophic analysis, multivariate graphical analyses this study. AMBI has ability detect large scale differences among However, was unable discriminate slight changes the macrobenthic assemblages between sites, exposed EQR.