Miltner, R. J., White, D., Yoder, C. 2004. The Biotic Integrity of Streams in Urban and Suburbanizing Landscapes. Landscape and Urban Planning. Elsevier B. V. Number 69. Pages 87-100

Ecosystem, Riparian buffer, Streams, Suburban, Urban, Urbanization, Water quality, Riparian, Aquatic community, Biodiversity, Wildlife, Aquatic ecosystems, Biology

This study evaluated the relationship between urban land uses and the biological health of streams in urban areas of Ohio (U.S.). Additionally, the health of three streams within the metropolitan Columbus area was tracked for over a decade. Stream health was reported using the Index of Biotic Integrity. The results indicate that urban land uses have a substantial negative impact on the biological integrity of streams, except in cases where the floodplain and riparian buffers are undeveloped.