Laboratoire de Recherche sur les Zones Humides (LRZH), Département de Zoologie, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques (FAST), Université d’Abomey- Calavi (UAC), Benin
This review article set out of the parameters used in the evaluation of the biotic integrity of the aquatic resources based on the pisciculturals communities and the sequences of the stages to follow for the calculation and the interpretation of this index.
In the search of information about these parameters and the sequences of the stages to follow for the calculation and the interpretation of this index, several published scientific works and the published books were consulted and their synthesis was made. The review of research results revealed that the IBPI in Africa integrates sixteen parameters. Four reflect wealth and the specific composition, seven wealth relative taxonomic, and five, abundance relative trophic of fish. Every parameter takes a score in function some perturbation and their sum gives a total score for the sampled station and permits to assign him a class of integrity.
The IBPI trusts several variables or parameters and their criteria of quotation measuring different aspects of the structure and the function of the ichthyologic communities that appear, on the whole, to answer changes of weak amplitude as well as to modifications more important of the ecosystem, susceptible to give better account of the level of quality or deterioration of these ecosystems and of their capacity to maintain the balance of their biocenosis.