RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY ASSESSMENT TECHNIQUES FOR ESTUARINE ENVIRONMENTS
Volume 2, Issue 2, Pp 4-14, 2024
DOI: 10.61784/ferv2n211
Author(s)
Pat T. Borja
Affiliation(s)
University of Coimbra, Portugal.
Corresponding Author
Pat T. Borja
ABSTRACT
Estuaries are important transition areas connecting freshwater and marine environments and play an important role in maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem services. The ecological integrity of estuaries is critical to the sustainable management and conservation of ecosystems. This article conducts a bibliometric analysis on the ecological integrity evaluation of estuaries, focusing on the evaluation methods and index selection of estuary ecological integrity evaluation. It mainly includes physical and chemical indicators, biological indicators and socioeconomic indicators. The importance of selecting different indicators for the evaluation of estuary ecological integrity is systematically analyzed through case studies. Finally, it was pointed out that some problems still faced in the evaluation of estuary ecological integrity were pointed out, and several suggestions were put forward to address these problems.
KEYWORDS
Ecology; Aquatic ecology; Estuarine ecology; Marine environment
CITE THIS PAPER
Pat T. Borja. Research and development of ecological integrity assessment techniques for estuarine environments. Frontiers in Environmental Research. 2024, 2(2): 4-14. DOI: 10.61784/ferv2n211.
REFERENCES
[1] Liu Pei, Huang Pengfei, Zhang Yanyan. Research progress on estuary management in my country. 2022 Academic Annual Conference of China Hydraulic Society. Beijing: China Hydraulic Society, 2022: 397-402
[2] Guo Lixia, Wang Yasong, Qiao Dehui. Comparison of dissolved organic matter in the northern and southern branches of the Yangtze River Estuary in summer. Marine Science, 2022, 46(11): 67-82 .
[3] Halpern BS, Walbridge S, Selkoe K A. A global map of human impact on marine ecosystems. Science, 2008, 319(5865): 948-952
[4] Bricker SB, Longstaff B, Dennison W. Effects of nutrient enrichment in the nation's estuaries: A decade of change. Harmful Algae, 2008, 8(1): 21-32
[5] Johnston EL, Mayer-Pinto M, Crowe T P. Chemical contaminant effects on marine ecosystem functioning. Journal of Applied Ecology, 2015, 52(1): 140149
[6] Tolkkinen MJ, Mykr? H, Virtanen R. Land use impacts on stream community composition and concordance along a natural stress gradient. Ecological Indicators, 2016, 62: 14-21
[7] Ye Dunyu. Water environmental quality status of rivers entering Nansi Lake and its response to the spatial pattern of land use in the basin. Qufu: Qufu Normal University, 2022: 22-24
[8] Sun Fuhong, Guo Yiding, Wang Yuchun. The great significance, current situation, challenges and main tasks of research on the integrity of aquatic ecosystems in my country. Environmental Science Research, 2022, 35(12): 2748-2757
[9] Leopold A. A Sand County Almanac: And Sketches Here and There. New York: Oxford University Press, 1949: 48-68
[10] Karr JR, Dudley I J. Ecological perspective on water quality goals. Environment Manage, 1981(5): 55-68
[11] Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Core set of indicators for environmental performance reviews: A synthesis report by the group on the state of the environment. Paris: Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, 1993
[12] Rapport D J. What constitutes ecosystem health? . Per-spectives in Biology and Medicine, 1989, 33(1): 120132
[13] Costanza R, Norton BG, Haskell B D. Ecosystem Health: New Goals for Environmental Management. Washington DC: Island Press, 1992: 52-66
[14] Peng Tao, Chen Xiaohong. Health assessment of typical estuary ecosystem in Haihe River Basin. Journal of Wuhan University (Engineering Edition), 2009, 42(5): 631-634, 639
[15] Dong Junjie, Zhao Min, Wang Chuang. River ecosystem health assessment from Yuehekou to Shikou. Henan Water Conservancy and South-to-North Water Diversion, 2013(11): 30-31
[16] Xu Haotian, Zhou Linfei, Cheng Qian. Research on health assessment and early warning of Linghekou wetland ecosystem based on PSR model. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 2017, 37 (24): 8264-8274
[17] Wang Tieliang, Sun Yimin. Research on health assessment of Shuangtai Estuary Wetland Ecosystem. Journal of Shenyang Agricultural University, 2013, 44(6): 793-798
[18] Xu F, Yang ZF, Chen B. Development of a structurally dynamic model for ecosystem health prognosis of Baiyangdian Lake, China. Ecological Indicators, 2013, 29: 398-410
[19] Wang Fufeng. Investigation and evaluation of the ecological environment status of Jinling Reservoir. Heilongjiang Water Conservancy Science and Technology, 2014, 42(1): 237-239
[20] Souza GBG, Vianna M. Fish-based indices for assessing ecological quality and biotic integrity in transitional waters: A systematic review . Ecological Indicators, 2020, 109: 105665
[21] Rocha L, Hegoburu C, Torremorell A. Use of ecosystem health indicators for assessing anthropogenic impacts on freshwaters in Argentina: A review . Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 2020, 192(9): 611
[22] Chen Y, Xiong K N, Ren X D. An overview of ecological vulnerability: A bibliometric analysis based on the Web of Science database. Environmental Science and Pollution Research International, 2022, 29 (9): 1298412996
[23] Qiu H H, Liu L G. A study on the evolution of carbon capture and storage technology based on knowledge mapping . Energies, 2018, 11(5): 1103
[24] Elliott M, Quintino V. The Estuarine Quality Paradox, Environmental Homeostasis and the difficulty of detecting anthropogenic stress in naturally stressed areas . Marine Pollution Bulletin, 2007, 54(6): 640-645
[25] Borja A, Ranasinghe A, Weisberg S B. Assessing ecological integrity in marine waters, using multiple indices and ecosystem components: Challenges for the future. Maine Pollution Bulletin, 2009, 59(1-3): 1-4
[26] Stevenson LH, Kennish M J. Ecology of estuaries: An-thropogenic effects. Estuaries, 1992, 15(3): 428
[27] Cloern JE, Abreu PC, Carstensen J. Human activi-ties and climate variability drive fast-paced change across the world's estuarine-coastal ecosystems. Global Change Biology, 2016, 22(2): 513529
[28] Niu Mingxiang, Wang Jun. Research progress on estuarine ecosystem health assessment. Journal of Ecology, 2014, 33(7): 19771982
[29] Meng W, Liu L S. On approaches of estuarine ecosystems health studies. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 2010, 86(3): 313-316
[30] O ’Brien A, Townsend K, Hale R. How is ecosystem health defined and measured? A critical review of freshwater and estuarine studies . Ecological Indicators, 2016, 69: 722-729
[31] Gibson R, Atkinson R, Gordon J. Loss, status and trends for coastal marine habitats of Europe . Oceanography and Marine Biology, 2007, 45: 345-405
[32] Zhang F, Peng G Y, Xu P. Ecological risk assessment of marine microplastics using the analytic hierarchy process: A case study in the Yangtze River Estuary and adjacent marine areas . Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2022, 425: 127960
[33] Le Guen C, Tecchio S, Dauvin J C. Assessing the ecological status of an estuarine ecosystem: Linking biodiversity and food-web indicators . Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 2019, 228: 106339
[34] Lin Hairong. Research on ecosystem integrity assessment methods in the Fujian Triangle region [D]. Fuzhou: Fuzhou University, 2019: 3-6
[35] Liu Xueping, Lu Shuangfang, Tang Mingming. Numerical simulation of sedimentation dynamics of estuary bar bodies under the control of river-tidal coupling. Earth Science, 2021, 46 (8): 2944-2957
[36] Galois R, Blanchard G, Seguignes M. Spatial distri-bution of sediment particulate organic matter on two estuary intertidal mudflats: A comparison between Marennes-Oléron Bay (France) and the Humber Estuary (UK). Continental Shelf Research, 2000, 20 (10/11): 11991217
[37] Smith SV, Hollibaugh J T. Coastal metabolism and the oceanic organic carbon balance . Reviews of Geophysics, 1993, 31(1): 75-89
[38] Xu Yutian. Fish species diversity and nutritional structure of intertidal salt marsh wetlands in Nanhui Dongtan, Yangtze Estuary [D]. Shanghai: East China Normal University, 2019: 4-5
[39] Jiang MQ, Nakano S I. The crucial influence of trophic status on the relative requirement of nitrogen to phosphorus for phytoplankton growth . Water Research, 2022, 222: 118868
[40] Liu Chuntao, Liu Xiuyang, Wang Lu. Preliminary study on ecosystem health assessment of Liaohe Estuary. Marine Development and Management, 2009, 26(3): 43-48
[41] Chen Jing. Technical methods and applications of water ecological health assessment in estuary areas [D]. Qingdao: Ocean University of China, 2013: 4-7
[42] Liu Yanxu, Peng Jian, Wang An. Research progress on ecosystem health. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 2015, 35(18): 5920-5930
[43] Niu Mingxiang, Wang Jun, Xu Binduo. Ecosystem health assessment in the Yellow River estuary area based on PSR. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 2017, 37(3): 943-952
[44] Wang Jindong, Su Hailei, Li Huixian. Research progress on ecological integrity evaluation and application of typical watersheds. Environmental Engineering, 2022, 40(10): 233-241
[45] Ye Shufeng, Liu Xing, Ding Dewen. Ecosystem health assessment index system and preliminary evaluation of the Yangtze River Estuary Sea Area. Acta Oceanographica Sinica, 2007, 29(4): 128136
[46] Müller F, Lenz R. Ecological indicators: Theoretical fundamentals of consistent applications in environmental management . Ecological Indicators, 2006, 6(1): 1-5
[47] Pinto R, Patrício J, Baeta A. Review and evaluation of estuarine biotic indices to assess benthic condition . Ecological Indicators, 2009, 9(1): 1-25
[48] Ma Tingting, Fan Yamin, Li Kuanyi. Ecological health assessment of the main estuary of Taihu Lake based on phytoplankton integrity index. Journal of Ecology and Rural Environment, 2021, 37(4): 501-508
[49] Hallett C S, Trayler K M, Valesini F J. The fish community index: A practical management tool for monitoring and reporting estuarine ecological condition . Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management, 2019, 15(5): 726-738
[50] Kido M H. A native species-based index of biological integrity for Hawaiian stream environments. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 2013, 185(5): 40634075
[51] Dauvin J C. Paradox of estuarine quality: Benthic indicators and indices, consensus or debate for the future . Marine Pollution Bulletin, 2007, 55(1-6): 271-281
[52] Elliott M, Whitfield A K. Challenging paradigms in estuarine ecology and management. Estuarine, Coastal Shelf Science, 2011, 94(4): 306-314
[53] Hess S, Alve E, Andersen T J. Defining ecological reference conditions in naturally stressed environments: How difficult is it? . Marine Environmental Research, 2020, 156: 104885
[54] Rapport D J, Costanza R, McMichael A J. Assessing ecosystem health . Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 1998, 13(10): 397-402
[55] Arocena R, Castro M, Chalar G. Ecological integrity assessment of streams in the light of natural ecoregions and anthropic land use . Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 2022, 194(10): 748
[56] Barbier E, Hacker S, Kennedy C J. The value of estuarine and coastal ecosystem services. Ecological Monographs, 2011, 81: 169193
[57] Alongi D M. Mangrove forests: Resilience, protection from tsunamis, and responses to global climate change . Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 2008, 76(1): 113
[58] Borja A, Bricker S B, Dauer D M. Overview of integrative tools and methods in assessing ecological integrity in estuarine and coastal systems worldwide. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 2008, 56(9): 15191537
[59] Zhao C, Shao N, Yang S. Integrated assessment of ecosystem health using multiple indicator species . Ecological Engineering, 2019, 130: 157168
[60] Lane C R, Brown M T. Diatoms as indicators of isolated herbaceous wetland condition in Florida, USA . Ecological Indicators, 2007, 7(3): 521-540
[61] Kane D D, Gordon S I, Munawar M. The Planktonic Index of Biotic Integrity (P-IBI): An approach for assessing lake ecosystem health . Ecological Indicators, 2009, 9(6): 12341247
[62] Li Z X, Ma C, Sun Y N. Ecological health evaluation of rivers based on phytoplankton biological integrity index and water quality index on the impact of anthropogenic pollution: A case of Ashi River Basin . Frontiers in Microbiology, 2022, 13: 942205
[63] Ruaro R, Gubiani é A. A scientometric assessment of 30 years of the Index of Biotic Integrity in aquatic ecosystems: Applications and main flaws . Ecological Indicators, 2013, 29: 105110
[64] Zogaris S, Tachos V, Economou A N. A modelbased fish bioassessment index for Eastern Mediterranean Rivers: Application in a biogeographically diverse area . The Science of the Total Environment, 2018, 622-623: 676-689
[65] Li J, Li Y, Qian B. Development and validation of a bacteria-based index of biotic integrity for assessing the ecological status of urban rivers: A case study of Qinhuai River Basin in Nanjing, China . Journal of Environmental Management, 2017, 196: 161167
[66] Li T H, Huang X L, Jiang X H. Assessment of ecosystem health of the Yellow River with fish index of biotic integrity . Hydrobiologia, 2018, 814(1): 31-43
[67] Guerrero E, Gili J M, Maynou F. Diversity and mesoscale spatial changes in the planktonic cnidarian community under extreme warm summer conditions . Journal of Plankton Research, 2018, 40(2): 178196
[68] Diaz R J, Solan M, Valente R M. A review of approaches for classifying benthic habitats and evaluating habitat quality . Journal of Environmental Management, 2004, 73(3): 165181
[69] Jiang MZ, Chen HY, Chen QH. Wetland ecosystem integrity and its variation in an estuary using the EBLE index. Ecological Indicators, 2015, 48: 252-262
[70] Frashure KM, Bowen RE, Chen R F. An integrative management protocol for connecting human priorities with ecosystem health in the Neponset River Estuary. Ocean & Coastal Management, 2012, 69: 255-264
[71] Li Yan, Ma Xiaoting, Hu Xiaohan. Ecological health assessment of typical watersheds in Xinjiang based on entropy weight. Xinjiang Environmental Protection, 2015, 37(4): 39-43, 51
[72] Liu Huijun, Yan Xuqian, Lin Daze. Fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method of mining area ecosystem health status [J]. Chinese Journal of Safety Science, 2009, 19(12): 154158
[73] Li Haixia, Han Lihua, Wei Qing. Evaluation of river water ecological health in Liaohe Reserve based on gray relational analysis method. Journal of Environmental Engineering Technology, 2020, 10(4): 553-561, 531
[74] Dauvin J C, Ruellet T. The estuarine quality paradox: Is it possible to define an ecological quality status for specific modified and naturally stressed estuarine ecosystems? . Marine Pollution Bulletin, 2009, 59(1-3): 38-47
[75] Ferreira J G. Development of an estuarine quality index based on key physical and biogeochemical features . Ocean & Coastal Management, 2000, 43(1): 99122
[76] Borja A, Dauer D M. Assessing the environmental quality status in estuarine and coastal systems: Comparing methodologies and indices . Ecological Indicators, 2008, 8 (4): 331-337
[77] Chiu G S, Wu M A, Lu L. Model-based assessment of estuary ecosystem health using the latent health factor index, with application to the richibucto estuary. PLoS One, 2013, 8(6): e65697
[78] Shamaskin AC, Correa SB, Street GM. Considering the influence of land use/land cover on estuarine biot-ic richness with Bayesian hierarchical models. Ecological Applications: A Publication of the Ecological Society of America , 2022, 32(7): e2675
[79] Sun Tao, Yang Zhifeng. Research and application of estuary ecosystem restoration evaluation index system. Chinese Environmental Science, 2004, 24(3): 381-384
[80] Hui Xiujuan, Yang Tao, Li Fayun. Health assessment of the Liaohe River water ecosystem in Liaoning Province. Journal of Applied Ecology, 2011, 22(1): 181188
[81] Zhang Rui, Xu Binduo, Xue Ying. Evaluation of fish biological integrity in the Yellow River Estuary and its adjacent waters. Chinese Fisheries Science, 2017, 24(5): 946-952
[82] Karr JR, Larson ER, Chu E W. Ecological integrity is both real and valuable. Conservation Science and Practice, 2022, 4(2): e583.