How to develop a comprehensive Mangrove Quality Index?

Publication date: Available online 20 June 2019Source: MethodsXAuthor(s): Faridah-Hanum Ibrahim, Fatimah Mohd Yusoff, Anwar Fitrianto, Ahmad Ainuddin Nuruddin, Seca Gandaseca, Zaiton Samdin, Norizah Kamarudin, Siti Nurhidayu Abu Bakar, Mohamad Roslan Kassim, Khalid Rehman Hakeem, Shamsuddin Ibrahim, Ismail Adnan, Awang Noor Abdul Ghani, Rhyma Purnamasayangsukasih Parman, Siti Balqis Abd Razak, Siti Aminah Ibrahim, Fareha Hilaluddin, Fatin Ramli, Nik Harun Al-Rashid Nik ZaidinAbstractCurrently, the available indices to measure mangrove health are not comprehensive. An integrative ecological-socio economic index could give a better picture of the mangrove ecosystem health. This method explored all key biological, hydrological, ecological and socio-economic variables to form a comprehensive mangrove quality index. A total of 10 out of 43 variables were selected based on principal component analysis (PCA). They are aboveground biomass, crab abundance, soil carbon, soil nitrogen, number of phytoplankton species, number of diatom species, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, education level and fishing time spent by fishers. Two types of indices were successfully developed to indicate the health status viz., (1) Mangrove quality index for a specific category (MQISi) and, (2) Overall mangrove quality index (MQI) to reflect the overall health status of the ecosystem. The indices for the five different categories were mangrove biotic integrity index (MQIS1), mangrove soil index (MQIS2), marin...
Source: MethodsX - Category: Science Source Type: research