Biological criteria

{
  "id": "MLC-T-ENV-003234",
  "term": "Biological criteria",
  "field": "Environment",
  "term_source": "Biological Criteria",
  "definition": "1. Also known as biocriteria, biological criteria are narrative expressions or numeric values of the biological characteristics of aquatic communities based on appropriate reference conditions. Biological criteria serve as an index of aquatic community health.\n\n2. 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\n3. Numerical values or narrative expressions that describe the condition of aquatic, biological assemblages of reference sites of a given aquatic life use designation.",
  "abbreviation": "Biocriteria",
  "subject": "Water",
  "see_also": [
    "Biocriteria"
  ],
  "references": [
    "Sediment Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) Glossary",
    "Biocriteria Glossary",
    "Glossary of Wetland Bioassessment Terms"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/environment/biological-criteria/"
}