A review of macroinvertebrate- and fish-based stream health indices

The focus of this review is to discuss the current uses and developments of macroinvertebrate and fish indicators in riverine ecosystems. Macroinvertebrates and fish are commonly used indicators of stream heath, due to their ability to represent degradation occurring at the local or regional scales, respectively. A total of 78 macroinvertebrate and fish indices were reviewed, and the frequently used macroinvertebrate and fish indices are discussed in detail in the context of aquatic ecosystem health evaluation. This review also discusses several types of common components, or metrics, used in the creation of indices. Following this, the review will focus on the different methods used for macroinvertebrate and fish collection, in both wadeable and non-wadeable aquatic ecosystems. With the basics of macroinvertebrate and fish indices discussed, emphasis will be placed on the application of indices and the different regions for which they are developed. The final section will provide a summary of the benefits and limitations of macroinvertebrate and fish indices. In general, the majority of studies have been performed in wadeable streams; therefore, our knowledge about these indices in non-wadeable streams is limited, which should be the subject of future research.