Benthic Macroinvertebrate Multimetric Index for River (BMIR): Development of a multimetric index based on benthic macroinvertebrates for rivers in Türkiye

Stream types determined according to altitude, slope and alkalinity in six different hydrobiogeographic regions of Türkiye were taken as the basis study. In line with European Water Framework Directive, a macroinvertebrate based multimetric method was tested for Turkish rivers potential assessment. this study, benthic data (3502 samples obtained from 1925 stations reference points) used create index all river Türkiye. Nine (9) biological metrics evaluated development criteria chosen capture meaningful results at ecosystem, community individual levels. The metric combinations show best distinction between areas no or only very minor anthropogenic disturbances stressed (with discrimination efficiency values). index, which includes three categories, distinguishes slightly distorted an close 100%. Index values divided five-scale system one (High) zero (Bad) evaluation. Further testing research can be done so that will provide more useful result bioassessment tool decision makers regions. Also, methods by status is assessed on stress factors.