An integrated index for the health of aquatic ecosystem based on multi-species distribution models

This study developed an integrated index for aquatic ecosystem health using multi-species distribution models (SDMs) based on environmental variables and species occurrence data. While the results of SDMs revealed that land use, particularly urban and agricultural areas, is a key factor degrading freshwater habitats, the Total-Aquatic Ecosystem Health Index (T-AEHI), which integrates occurrence probabilities from three taxonomic groups, showed strong correlations with existing indices and proved its effectiveness in spatiotemporal scales. It is believed that the approach can contribute to effective conservation and restoration planning for aquatic ecosystems.