Application of a multimetric fish index to assess the environmental condition of South African estuaries |
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| Authors: | Trevor D Harrison Alan K Whitfield |
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| Institution: | (1) Department of Ichthyology and Fisheries Science, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa;(2) Present address: South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, Private Bag 1015, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa;(3) Marine and Coastal Management, Private Bag X2, Rogge Bay 8012, Cape Town, South Africa |
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| Abstract: | A multimetric fish index, the Estuarine Fish Community Index (EFCI) of Harrison and Whitfield (2004), was applied to data
collected for 190 South African estuaries. Estuaries spanned three biogeographic regions and included three distinct estuarine
typologies. The EFCI is based on 14 metrics or measures that represent four broad fish community attributes: species diversity
and composition, species abundance, nursery function, and trophic integrity. Metric reference conditions and scoring criteria
were developed separately for each estuary type within each zoogeographic region. The final EFCI was applied to each estuary
by comparing its fish community with the appropriate reference. Index values ranged between 18 (very poor) and 66 (very good).
A comparison of the EFCI with independent measures of estuarine condition revealed that the index was able to effectively
differentiate between poor and good quality sites. Applying the EFCI to estuaries in which multiple samples were taken also
showed that the index is reproducible. The EFCI is both a robust and sensitive method for assessing the ecological condition
of estuarine systems; it is also an effective communication tool for converting ecological information into an easily understood
format for managers, policy makers, and the general public. |
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