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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Biomonitoring of fish communities, using the Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) in Rabbit Creek-Cat Creek Watershed, Summer 1992

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/10183541· OSTI ID:10183541

The Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) is a method for evaluating the health of water bodies and watersheds by analyzing sample catches of fishes. Sites are scored on a numerical scale of 12--60 and on that basis assigned to a ``bioclass`` ranging from ``very poor`` to ``excellent.`` Overall, the major causes of depressed IBI scores in the Rabbit Creek watershed would appear to be: Organic pollution, mostly from livestock, but also from agricultural runoff and possible septic tank failures; sedimentation, principally from stream bank damage by cattle, also possibly from agriculture and construction; toxic pollution from agrochemicals applied to Holly Springs Golf course and agricultural fields` and Warming of water and evaporation loss due to elimination of shade on stream banks and construction of ponds.

Research Organization:
Tennessee Valley Authority, Chattanooga, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
Tennessee Valley Authority, Knoxville, TN (United States)
OSTI ID:
10183541
Report Number(s):
TVA/WM--93/22; ON: DE93040577
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English