Biocriteria

{
  "id": "MLC-T-ENV-003154",
  "term": "Biocriteria",
  "field": "Environment",
  "definition": "1. Narrative or numeric expressions that describe the biological condition (structure and function) of aquatic communities inhabiting waters of a designated aquatic life use. Biocriteria are based on the numbers and kinds of organisms present and are regulatory-based biological measurements.\n\n2. Numerical values or narrative expressions describing the reference biological condition of aquatic communities inhabiting waters of a given designated aquatic life use. Biocriteria are benchmarks for evaluation and management of water resources.\n\n3. The biological characteristics that quantitatively describe a waterbody with a healthy community of fish and associated aquatic organisms. Components of biocriteria include the presence and seasonality of key indicator species; the abundance, diversity, and structure of the aquatic community; and the habitat conditions required for these organisms.\n\n4. Narrative or numeric expressions that describe the desired biological condition of aquatic communities inhabiting particular types of waterbodies and serve as an index of aquatic community health. (USEPA 1994).",
  "subject": "Water",
  "see_also": [
    "Biological Criteria"
  ],
  "references": [
    "Aquatic Biodiversity Glossary; Biocriteria Glossary",
    "CADDIS Glossary; NSTEP Glossary; N-STEPS Online Glossary of Terms",
    "Watershed Planning Glossary of Terms",
    "EPA Nutrient Criteria Technical Guidance Manual Wetlands Glossary EPA-822-B-08-001 June 2008"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/environment/biocriteria/"
}