Proportion of Individuals as Generalists

 

This metric replaces the omnivore metric used in the original IBI (Karr 1981). Use of the

omnivore metric was determined to be inapropriate in New Jersey because omnivores

are naturally depauperate. Generalists, as defined here, are species with flexible feeding

strategies and broad habitat requirements. Often a shift from predominantly specialist groups

to generalists groups occurs as water quality becomes degraded (Leonard and Orth 1986); Ohio

EPA 1987). Due to broad feeding and habitat requirements, species included for use in this

metric are considered tolerant of environmental degradation.