Ecological integrity of deep lakes in New Zealand across anthropogenic pressure gradients

- We model in-lake ecological integrity (EI) using anthropogenic pressure indicators.
- Increase in anthropogenic pressure generally leads to decrease in EI.
- Natural conditions account for large proportions of variation in EI.
- Physico-chemical indicators are more closely related to anthropogenic pressure than biological indicators.
- National monitoring of EI should encompass interactions of biota with natural and anthropogenic stressors.