Benthic Index of Biological Integrity (B-IBI)
for the Puget Sound Lowlands

Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) - Data Analysis, Synthesis, and Communication

• Biological Integrity and the Index of Biological Integrity
  • Biological Integrity and Biomonitoring - what is it, why is it important, and how is it influenced by human activity?
  • Biological Integrity and the Decline of Salmon
  • Measuring Integrity: The Benthic Index of Biological Integrity (B-IBI)
    • Measuring Human Influence with the Index of Biological Integrity
    • How IBI's Work
  • Level of Identification
  • Generating B-IBI Summary Metrics from Raw Data
  • Calculating an IBI and Interpreting the Results
    • Interpreting your IBI Score
    • Interpreting Stream Health Scores
    • Graphing Your Results
  • References

  See the SalmonWeb Publications section for additional background information on IBI and stream health.

Taxonomic Identification Levels for 10 and 5 Metric B-IBI

A B-IBI can be calculated whether aquatic insects are identified to the family, genus, or lowest practical taxonomic level. Decisions about the appropriate level of macroinvertebrate identification typically depend on the purpose of the study, other potential uses for the data, the expertise of the taxonomist, and the funding available for the study. When samples are identified to genus or the lowest practical taxonomic level, a ten metric scoring system is used. When samples are identified to the family level, a five metric scoring system is used. (See Level of Indentification for more information.)

• Species/Family Level 10 Metric B-IBI chironimids identified to family

• Species Level 10 Metric B-IBI chironimids identified to genus

• Genus Level 10 Metric B-IBI

• Genus Level (pre 1999) 10 Metric B-IBI used prior to 1999

• Family Level 5 Metric B-IBI

Sample Data Set

• Sample Data Set

Wednesday, 20-Dec-2000 10:55:02 PST