Adaptation and application of multivariate AMBI (M-AMBI) in US coastal waters.

摘要: The multivariate AMBI (M-AMBI) is an extension of the AZTI Marine Biotic Index (AMBI) that has been used extensively in Europe, but not United States. In a previous study, we adapted for use US coastal waters (US AMBI), saw biases salinity and score distribution when compared to locally calibrated indices. this study modified M-AMBI its performance AMBI. was evaluated three ways: 1) concordance with local indices presently being as management tools geographic regions waters, 2) classification accuracy sites defined priori good or bad 3) insensitivity natural environmental gradients. highly correlated all removed compression response seen moderately disturbed did similar job correctly classifying validation datasets (83 100% vs. 84 95%, respectively). also bias so lower were more likely be incorrectly classified impaired. appears acceptable index comparing condition across broad-scales such estuarine surveyed by EPA's National Coastal Condition Assessment, may applicable areas coast do have derived benthic index.