Using the Heavy Metal Indices and Benthic Indices to Assess the Ecological Quality in the Tidal Flats of Garolim Bay, South Korea

A comprehensive assessment of the ecological quality in Garolim Bay's tidal flats reveals that despite low concentrations of heavy metals and total organic carbon, 63% of the stations exhibit unacceptable ecological conditions. The study utilized two heavy metal indices and five benthic indices to evaluate the ecosystem's health robustly. Notably, the Benthic Opportunistic Polychaetes Amphipods Index (BOPA) showed strong performance in correlation and kappa analyses, though it had some limitations. The research underscores the importance of using multiple indices for a more accurate ecological assessment, providing critical insights into the impacts of anthropogenic activities on tidal flat ecosystems.

Liang, J., Huang, H.-R., Ma, C.-W., Son, D.-S., & Kim, S.-K. (2024). Using the Heavy Metal Indices and Benthic Indices to Assess the Ecological Quality in the Tidal Flats of Garolim Bay, South Korea. Water, 16(5), 736. https://doi.org/10.3390/w16050736