Skip to main content

IMIS

A new integrated search interface will become available in the next phase of marineinfo.org.
For the time being, please use IMIS to search available data

 

[ report an error in this record ]basket (1): add | show Print this page

one publication added to basket [282363]
Benthic indicators: from subjectivity to objectivity – Where is the line?
Dauvin, J.-C.; Bellan, G.; Bellan-Santini, D. (2010). Benthic indicators: from subjectivity to objectivity – Where is the line? Mar. Pollut. Bull. 60(7): 947-953. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2010.03.028
In: Marine Pollution Bulletin. Macmillan: London. ISSN 0025-326X; e-ISSN 1879-3363, more
Peer reviewed article  

Available in  Authors 

Keyword
    Marine/Coastal
Author keywords
    Benthic indicators; Soft-bottom community; Subjectivity; Objectivity; Expert judgement

Authors  Top 

Abstract
    Over the last few years, the interest in using benthic indicators to assess marine environments has increased dramatically after a rather long period of relative stagnation, mostly due to the need to assess the status of coastal marine waters required by North American and European regulations. Numerous papers on this topic have been published in the domain of ecology, using a variety of different terms to refer to two categories of information: benthic species and the status of benthic communities. Nowadays, the abundant literature on these two categories makes it possible to comment on (1) the definition of the different terms used by benthic researchers, (2) the current increase of papers of rising complexity about benthic indicators, and (3) the subjectivity and objectivity involved in using benthic indicators. Faced with the increase in the number of methods, we recommend pragmatism and thus the transfer of simple methods to the research consultancies that are responsible for assessing benthic quality in numerous impact studies. Using certain procedures, such as the “sentinel species”, the best professional judgement (BPJ) and taxonomic sufficiency (TS), should clearly be encouraged.

All data in the Integrated Marine Information System (IMIS) is subject to the VLIZ privacy policy Top | Authors