Ecological Indicators
Explore the indicators used to measure ecological health across soil, vegetation, fauna, water, and erosion domains.
What are ecological indicators?
Ecological indicators are measurable properties of soil, vegetation, fauna, water, or landscape that reflect the health or condition of an ecosystem. Each indicator has a defined unit of measurement and may have one or more benchmarks — target values that represent desirable ecological states.
Indicators are grouped by domain (e.g. Soil, Vegetation, Fauna) and may be seasonal or vegetation-specific. Use the domain tabs below to filter, or browse all indicators to discover the benchmarks available for each.
General 30 indicators
Acoustic Complexity Index (ACI)
Acoustic index quantifying variability in biological sound, correlated with avian biodiversity.
Bare Ground
Percentage of area lacking vegetative cover, exposing soil to erosion risk.
Basal Area
Total cross-sectional area of tree stems per hectare, indicating stand density and structure.
Camera Trap Detection Rate
Detection rate of mammals and ground-dwelling fauna per 100 trap-night deployment.
eDNA Biodiversity Detection
Detection of vertebrate or invertebrate species through environmental DNA (eDNA) collected from water samples.
Fungal:Bacterial Ratio
Ratio of fungal to bacterial biomass in soil (0–10 cm), indicating microbial community balance and ecosystem function.
Ground Cover - Grasses
Percentage of ground surface protected by vegetation and/or litter cover; inverse proxy for erosion susceptibility.
Ground Cover - Shrubs
Vegetation mid-storey, percent covered by key shrub vegetation. Supporting structural condition and habitat assessment.
Ground Cover - Tree Canopy
Percentage of ground surface shaded by tree canopy cover.
Gully Density
Total length of active gullies per hectare of landscape surveyed.
Invasive Species Presence
Detection of listed invasive plant species presence within the survey area.
Litter Cover
Percentage of ground surface covered by natural plant litter (leaves, bark, organic debris), indicating ecosystem health…
Microbial Biomass Carbon (MBC)
Mass of living microbial carbon in topsoil (0–10 cm), indicating biological activity and soil health.
Microbial Respiration
Rate of CO2 released by soil microbes under controlled incubation, reflecting microbial activity and soil biological fun…
Riparian Vegetation
Percent cover or extent of riparian vegetation along waterways, supporting bank stability, habitat quality, and water qu…
Soil Electrical Conductivity (EC)
Measure of soil salinity and ionic content.
Soil Organic Carbon (SOC)
Percentage of organic carbon content in the topsoil (0–10 cm).
Soil Structure & Compaction
Resistance of soil to mechanical penetration, indicating compaction severity.
Soil Water Infiltration Rate
Rate at which water penetrates the soil surface, indicating infiltration capacity.
Tree Recruitment
Density of recruiting trees (seedlings/saplings), indicating regeneration potential and long-term woody structure persis…
Vegetation Extent
Total mapped area of vegetation (by class/zone), used to quantify habitat availability and track change over time.
Vegetation Woody Cover
Percentage of landscape covered by woody vegetation (trees/shrubs). Distinct from canopy cover at plot scale; intended f…
Water Electrical Conductivity (EC)
Water salinity indicator measuring electrical conductivity at standard temperature.
Water Nitrate
Concentration of nitrate ions dissolved in surface water bodies.
Water Turbidity
Concentration of suspended particles causing water cloudiness, measured as turbidity.