3.1. Reference site distribution and sample dataset classifi cation
The site classification screening procedure identified 29
reference sites, 13 sites were located in ecoregion I1 and 16 sites
were located in ecoregion I2. Reference sites that had excellent
water quality were primarily distributed in forested areas in
ecoregion I1; however, in the eastern plain aquatic ecoregion,
reference sites were primarily distributed on the East and South
coast of Lake Taihu (the Taipu River), a channel connecting the Lake
Taihu and the Lake Gehu, and channels for water diversion from
the Yangtze River to Lake Taihu (the Desheng River and the
Wangyu River)