Benthic Index of Biological Integrity

Topic

Topic pages summarize knowledge and resources within a subject area

• Anthropogenic Topics
  • Climate Change
  • Infrastructure
    • Aquaculture
    • Energy
    • Flood Management
    • Shoreline Management
    • Transportation
    • Water Management
  • Land Use
    • Agriculture
    • Conservation Lands
    • Forestry
    • Industrial
    • Rural
    • Urban
  • Socioeconomics
• Ecosystem Topics
  • Biology
  • Ecology
  • Geophysics
  • Landform

Salish Sea References

• Watershed Characterization Mapper
• The Encyclopedia of Puget Sound
• PRISM Project Search
• Washington Coastal Atlas
• WDFW's Salmonscape Map

Wiki Rules

• Wiki text does not reflect the policy or opinion of any agency or organization
• Please adhere to our Social Contract and Style Guide
• Complain here, and be nice.

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.

Notes

• The B-IBI was developed through the perisistent advocacy and work of Jim Carr at University of Washington
• https://pugetsoundstreambenthos.org/About-BIBI.aspx

facts or skills acquired by a person through experience or education.