Application and Validation of an Ecological Quality Index, ISEP, in the Yellow Sea

An ecological index of macrobenthic communities is an important tool for assessing the biological quality habitats and ecosystems. We tested performance inverse function Shannon–Wiener evenness proportion (ISEP) with data from entire west coast Korea, seasonally sampled 2006 to 2008. Two validations were performed: (1) examination relationship between ISEP environmental factors (2) correspondence Pearson–Rosenberg (P-R) model species-abundance-biomass (SAB) patterns taxonomical variations. The was significantly correlated suspended solids but independent other natural habitat conditions due their low moderate contamination levels. From this, performed as expected in transitional zones salinity applications across various sediments. SAB taxonomic variations along grades showed marked similarities P-R model. only departure biomass, which increased after normal status. increase interpreted reflecting a healthier more mature Taxonomic variation taxa composition that characterized either poor or healthy status corresponded well conformity indicates capability potential applicability coastal systems.