title: Performance evaluation and validation of ecological indices toward site-specific application for varying benthic conditions in Korean coasts.
abstract: Although several ecological indices have been developed worldwide to assess the ecological quality (EcoQ) status of coastal environments, their applicability remains in question. The present study evaluated the performance of 14 univariate and multivariate indices selected to provide a good description of benthic EcoQ status. We specifically investigated on i) spatial and regional variability, ii) (dis)similarity between ecological indices, and iii) the association of selected indices against heavy metal pollution. Benthic community data were collected from six coastal regions of Korea (n=365) that have varying land-use activity in adjacent inland areas (municipal, industrial, and rural). Abiotic sedimentary parameters were also considered as possible pressures associated with benthic community responses, including grain size, organic carbon content, and heavy metal pollution. The macrozoobenthic biodiversity and EcoQ results generally well reflected the geographical settings and the pollution gradient of heavy metals between regions. Among the six selected indices (H', AMBI, BPI, BQI, EQR, and M-AMBI), BPI appeared to be the most tolerant index, with >90% of locations being classified as "High" to "Good" while EQR showed the clear classification across the EcoQ status range. Significant disagreement between BQI vs. AMBI, BPI vs. M-AMBI, and AMBI vs. M-AMBI were found. Overall, single or limited indices seemed to over- or underestimate the given benthic conditions, warranting the use of site-specific indices at specific areas and/or locations. In conclusion, our study demonstrates the utility of applying different ecological or multivariate indices to infer the general ecological status of specific sites to gauge the extent of sedimentary pollution.
authors.affiliation: Department of Marine Biotechnology, Anyang University, Ganghwa-gun, Incheon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jongseong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.affiliation: School of Earth and Environmental sciences & Research Institute of Oceanography, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seongjin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Korea Maritime Institute, Busan, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Won Keun
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: School of Earth and Environmental sciences & Research Institute of Oceanography, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: jskocean@snu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Jong Seong
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Khim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D044822:Biodiversity; D004463:Ecology; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D007448:Invertebrates; D056910:Republic of Korea
keywords: Benthic indices; Benthos; Heavy metals; Invertebrates; Macrofauna; Sediment quality