A master list of all indicators and metrics, with definitions, ecosystem status component(s) they inform, and source references

<p><span>Global policies increasingly focus on the importance of maintaining or improving the integrity of ecosystems, but defining, assessing, and monitoring </span><span>integrity<span> in marine protected areas (MPAs) remains a challenge.</span> <span>In this paper, we conceptualized ecological integrity along dimensions </span>of <span>heterogeneity and stability containing seven components</span>: <span>physical structure, diversity, function, persistence, resistance, resilience, and natural variability. Through a structured literature search, we identified indicators and metrics used for quantifying ecosystem status components in the marine environment, then reviewed </span>MPA management plans worldwide for <span>inclusion of these components.</span> We evaluated <span>202 papers applying 83 ecological indicators built from 72 </span>metrics. Ecosystem components were most comprehensively addressed by metrics of taxa presence, organisms count, and area occupied by benthic organisms, and community structure, biomass, and percent cover indicators. <span>Of the 557 MPA management plans </span>we reviewed globally<span>, 93% used at least one ecosystem status term or its synonym in an ecologically-relevant context, but 39% did not address any components of stability. In particular, resistance was mentioned in only 1% of management plans, but in some cases it may be inferred from indicators and metrics used to track the best addressed component in management plans – diversity.</span> <span>Plans for MPAs with both an ecological/biological purpose and a research and education purpose contained ecosystem status terms more frequently than other plans, suggesting that engagement with the scientific community may have improved application of these terms.</span> <span>An improved understanding of how to operationalize and measure ecological integrity can help MPA monitoring and management.</span></span></p>