Assessing benthic health in stressed subtropical estuaries, eastern Florida, USA using AMBI and M-AMBI

摘要: Abstract The Indian River Lagoon (IRL) and the St. Lucie Estuary (SLE), both located in Florida, USA, are affected by a variety of anthropogenic pressures. Benthic macroinvertebrates have been monitored quarterly since February 2005, at 15 stations, order to assess benthic health. Since SLE IRL situated subtropical area, it is two major climatic seasons, dry (winter) wet (summer). This contribution investigates application AZTI's Marine Biotic Index (AMBI) multivariate-AMBI (M-AMBI), ecological status these estuaries. AMBI was firstly calculated after assigning most previously unassigned species each five groups (from sensitive first opportunistic species). Three main assemblages, associated oligohaline, meso-polyhaline euhaline stretches, identified within area. Reference conditions richness, Shannon's diversity derived for assemblages; M-AMBI has then calculated. Both methods show that inner part pressures (increased freshwater inflow, with elevated nutrient input, sedimentation), whilst less affected. We demonstrated insensitive dramatic seasonal changes occurring SLE/IRL. At some stations significant positive trend quality identified, linked polluted discharges decrease. use tools seems adequate assessing health this