Low levels of agreement among experts using best professional judgment to assess benthic condition in the San Francisco Estuary and Delta

摘要: Benthic indices to support aquatic environmental condition assessments have been more effectively developed for higher than lower salinity habitats. Here we quantify agreement among benthic experts using best professional judgment assess community of mesohaline and tidal freshwater samples from the San Francisco Estuary Delta, compare that a previous study polyhaline samples. species abundance data 20 sites in each habitat were provided 7 freshwater, 8 mesohaline, who ranked worst placed into 4 categories. The average correlation expert's rankings was only 0.38 0.29 habitats, respectively, compared 0.92 study. Pair-wise expert categories averaged 41% 39%, 70% polyhaline. Based on post-exercise discussions experts, differences habitats appears related use different indicator taxa disturbance regimes select proportions tolerant taxa, confounding at current level understanding response these Regardless reason, absence clear conceptual model ecologists about makes index development difficult low estuarine