Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity

The Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity (B-IBI) is an ecological assessment metric that measures the health and integrity of benthic (seafloor) communities based on the composition, abundance, and diversity of benthic fauna. Developed by James Karr in 1981 for freshwater fish assemblages and later adapted for marine benthic communities, the B-IBI provides a holistic measure of ecosystem condition integrating responses to multiple stressors including pollution, habitat degradation, and resource depletion.