Research and Advances in Estuarine Aquatic Ecological Integrity Assessment Methods.

The estuary is a critical transitional zone between freshwater and marine ecosystems, which plays a pivotal role in the preservation of biodiversity and the provision of ecosystem services. The ecological integrity of estuaries is vital in the sustainable ecosystem management and conservation. This study conducted a bibliometric analysis of estuarine ecological integrity assessment, focusing on the methodologies and the selection of relevant indicators. The methodology primarily included physical-chemical, biological, and socio-economic indicators. The evaluation's significance was systematically analyzed through various indicators in several case studies. Finally, the paper identifies ongoing challenges in assessing estuarine ecological integrity and offers several suggestions to address them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]