An insight to the ecological evaluation index (EEI)

The ecological evaluation index (EEI) was designed to estimate the ecological status of transitional and coastal waters. Marine benthic macrophytes (seaweeds, seagrasses) were used as bioindicators of ecosystem shifts due to anthropogenic stress, from the pristine state with late-successional species (high ecological status class (ESC)) to the degraded state with opportunistic species (bad ESC). The relation of EEI to function and to resilience of the marine ecosystem, and its possibility for comparing and ranking at local, national and international levels are some of its main management implications. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]