Strengths of Biological Surveys
Bioassessment provides indications of cumulative impacts of multiple stressors, not just water quality. Biological community condition reflects both short- and long-term effects, and directly evaluates the condition of the water resource. Biological data can be interpreted based on regional reference condition where single reference sites are lacking or inadequate. Properly developed methods, metrics, and reference conditions provide a tool that enables a direct measure of the ecological condition of a waterbody. Once a framework is in place for bioassessment, biological monitoring can be relatively inexpensive, and easily performed with standard protocols and consistent training.

Strengths of Biological Surveys

Bioassessment provides indications of cumulative impacts of multiple stressors, not just water quality.
Biological community condition reflects both short- and long-term effects, and directly evaluates the condition of the water resource.
Biological data can be interpreted based on regional reference condition where single reference sites are lacking or inadequate.
Properly developed methods, metrics, and reference conditions provide a tool that enables a direct measure of the ecological condition of a waterbody.
Once a framework is in place for bioassessment, biological monitoring can be relatively inexpensive, and easily performed with standard protocols and consistent training.