Benthic Index of Biological Integrity

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The Benthic Index of Biological Integrity uses samples of the invertebrates living in the gravels of streams to evaluate stream health. As stream watersheds become more developed, the pollution and disturbance in the stream gravel increases. Over time a complex web of life, including many kinds of May Flies and Caddis Flies is reduced to a few creatures that eat scum off of rocks. B-IBI is a standard measure of stream health, and is useful because it integrates any complex water quality effects over time, that are otherwise difficult to detect using water samples.

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